Page 94 of A Light So Blinding
“Why would I?” He shrugged. “They aren’t going to stay long.”
“Why would they not?”
“They brought food. We have it now. They can leave.” He frowned when she gasped at him like he’d said the sky was falling. “What?”
“They are guests, Bjorn! If they want to visit us, which they likely do, then we are going to let them visit. They can stay as long as they wish, and we will cater to them as is required. Good hosting is a talent I see you do not possess.”
Hosting?
Why would he ever be good at hosting people?
Frowning, he trailed after her as she headed out into the main room. He was surprised to see that she was correct. Both couples were still in the main living area waiting for them, although Rose and Maia appeared to be picking things up. He didn’t like them doing that. If they were guests, as Astrid claimed, then they shouldn’t be working.
Slowly, he leaned over and grabbed a moth-eaten pillow from Rose’s hands. She froze like a deer in the sights of a hunter, staring at him with her pulse visibly thudding in her neck.
“You do not have to clean while you are here,” he said gently, placing the pillow back onto the couch. “This house has been in disrepair for many, many years. A few more hours won’t hurt it.”
But then Maia’s voice caught his attention, and it made everyone in the room freeze. “My god, she really does look like the princess.”
More silence followed that declaration, and Maia’s face turned a lovely shade of bright red as she realized what she had just said. She probably shouldn’t have blurted that out, considering it was something that all of them knew, and it was likely something that made both Astrid and Rose uncomfortable.
Both of them looked remarkably like the princess, although perhaps Astrid looked more like that horrible woman. His bright one seemed to blink a few times, and then finally said very magnanimously, “It’s a good thing I don’t act like her.”
That seemed to ease the tension in the room. Ragnar scoffed at her words. “The kingdom wouldn’t survive that. The princess’s ego isn’t big enough for the rest of us to exist around. Let alone two of her.”
Then Gunnar pointed at Bjorn and said, “You should come with us. We thought you might want a tour of how things have changed since you were here last time, and it’ll be easier with two of us. No one will bother you like they have been. I heard your welcome was a little overwhelming.”
He didn’t want to leave his home. Part of that was the safety this cavern gave him, and the other part was that Astrid had yet to settle in. He wanted to be the one here to help her. To assist her. To show her the entire house and tell her stories about how he’d lived here as a boy and how easy it had been to get in trouble with his father insisting that he be perfect in everything that he did.
But Astrid looked him over and then grinned. “You should go. It might be good for you to reacquaint yourself with the city.”
Or it might make him worse. He feared that.
A soft touch of her magic stroked through his body, and suddenly he felt that anxiety lessen. It was like all she had to do was yank on it a little harder than the other emotions, and that was enough for it to calm down. Instead, he was able to feel the excitement that burned within him at the thought. She hadn’t made him excited, it had always been there. He just hadn’t been able to feel it through the anxiety that made everything so much harder.
“What will you do?” he asked, as though no one else was in the room with them.
She gestured to the other two women. “I assume they are here to help us make this ancient room a home. We’ll get things situated here.”
“That doesn’t seem fair. I shouldn’t be out adventuring while you’re here working.”
He didn’t like the idea of all three women cleaning the house while he and his oldest friends were out doing nothing. That was his role. He was supposed to take care of her. He was supposed to make her life easier, and right now, it felt like he was doing anything but.
Ragnar looped an arm around his shoulder and leaned down. “They want to see that you two are settled and comfortable. This home is a tomb, Bjorn. It has been years since your father died. It’s not fit for anyone to live in. Let us help you feel better about being back in Trollveggen, and let the women turn this bucket of dust into a home again. It’ll make them feel better.”
Bjorn eyed all the women, trying to make sure that was the truth. Astrid nodded a few times, Rose didn’t make eye contact with him, and Maia made shooing gestures with her hands. So he supposed it must’ve been all right.
Sighing, he headed over to Astrid and cupped the back of her neck. Gently, always so gentle, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Do not do anything that makes you regret coming here. I just got you to my home, bright one. I refuse to lose you because you didn’t enjoy cleaning.”
She laughed. “Bjorn, I’ll be all right.” But then she paused and really looked at him, her magic pushing that anxiety down even farther. “Take care of yourself too.”
He planned on it. Because if he didn’t, then he wouldn’t get to return to this home with her.
Thirty-Six
Astrid
Astrid had forgotten how nice it was to be surrounded by other women. She’d been traveling with Bjorn for such a long time, it was easy to forget. And of course, even back home she’d usually been in the presence of lords who regularly ignored each other unless there was a reason to share secrets.
