Page 122 of Heart of Iron
Astrid smiled.“It will take months yet for your full strength to settle in.You will find your moods erratic and yourself prone to emotional outbursts.You must learn to control these, for fear of hurting someone.”
“Even a woman suffers from such tempers?”
“Especially a woman,” Eric jested.
Astrid turned her quelling gaze on him.“Considering how many times you were dumped in the sea or chained in the cage, you are bold to talk.”
“Play nicely.”Magnus eased a hand on both their arms.His hungry gaze narrowed on someone.“We are being watched.”
The breeze stirred Lena’s skirts as she followed his gaze.The Warhammer watched them from across the courtyard.The Duchess of Casavian conversed with him, but that wasn’t what caught Lena’s attention.On the other side of him, the Duke of Lannister glared at her over a flute of champagne.
Colchester.
She didn’t realize she’d taken a step toward him until Astrid caught her arm.The sudden burning rage she felt almost choked her.He had threatened her, hunted her, and almost killed her.And then he’d tried to do the same to Adele.A shimmering red haze settled in her vision.
“You must breathe.Nice and slow,” Astrid cautioned her.“This is what I warn you of.This fury.This uncontrollable need.You must let it go.”
“I don’t want to.”With the fury coursing through her she felt powerful, invincible.Without it, she was afraid she would feel like she always had—a timid little mouse, scuttling away whilst Colchester stalked her.
“You would not reach him,” Astrid said.“They will cut you down, then turn on us.You know this to be true.”
A heavy hand settled on her shoulder.“Breathe,” the Fenrir commanded.The weight of his hand calmed her.“Breathe in.”As she complied, his hypnotic voice continued.“And as you breathe out, you must let it go.”
Colchester tipped his champagne flute toward her in a mocking salute.
Lena’s fists clenched.“I hate him.I hate him so much.”
“You must let it go,” Magnus commanded.“Breathe, Miss Todd.Here is your hotheaded young man.”He turned her toward the line of carriages.“What will he do if he sees you so upset?”
Will would rip Colchester to pieces.Lena sucked in a deep breath.She couldn’t allow that.“I’m sorry.”
“We understand,” Magnus replied.“More than most.”A brief smile crossed his hard features.“Let it go.Let your anger and your hate go.Let it wash through you.Like the wind.Cleansing you.Bringing you peace.”
Closing her eyes, Lena listened to the soothing timbre of his voice.The muscles in her shoulders relaxed.
“I think you had best take your hand off her,” Eric murmured.“Or risk an international incident.”
The warmth of his touch was gone.Lena opened her eyes to see Will bearing down on them with Blade and Honoria in tow.
He wore a brown leather waistcoat, the brass buttons riveted to the seam, and a gorgeous velvet long coat that at first glance appeared to be black.Only on close inspection did she realize it was so dark a navy as to look like midnight.The wind ruffled his tangled golden-brown hair as he strode across the yard toward her, scattering ladies and blue bloods alike.
Taking the stairs two at a time, he surged to her side.Lena couldn’t stop herself from looking down.Supple leather boots finished just above his knee, with a pair of brass, military-style spurs jangling on the marble tiles.
She couldn’t help herself.She had to touch him, brushing the backs of her fingers against his thigh.“Where did you get those from?”
“The boots?They was Blade’s little gift to me this mornin’.”
“I should have suspected his tastes,” she replied, eyeing the rest of him with appreciation.“The coat too?”
“I consider meself lucky its only velvet,” Will replied.His eyes were warm with heat and unspoken need.
Lena leaned toward him, then forced herself to stop.They had to behave impeccably today.No matter how much she wanted to grab his lapels and yank his face down to kiss her.
Blade guided Honoria up the stairs with a protective hand on the small of her back.Lena eyed the stark leather coat he wore, and the garish red waistcoat.“You’re right.”It could have been worse.
Honoria was all charm, greeting the Fenrir and his group with practiced ease.Ignoring their standoffish looks, Blade added his own greetings.
“This is your master?”Astrid murmured, eyeing Blade with open hostility.
