Beyond(6)

I couldn’t listen to anymore.

“You’re done Lars,” I tell him. “Was anyone else injured?”

Lars looks to Dane but shakes his head no. Apparently he wasn’t very talkative, or maybe that was just with me. He did give off the whole strong and silent type vibe. He stands and walks off, joining the rest of the group who were helping sort through the finds. Dane still stands there with Tegan next to him, but I’d tuned out their voices. Packing away the first aid kit, and feeling happy no one was seriously injured this time, I turn back to Sam, wanting to talk with him some more. When I feel Dane grab onto the back of my t-shirt, pulling me to a stop, I turn in frustration.

“What?”

“Anything happen while I was gone?” he asks, rubbing his thumb along my nape.

“Like what?” I ask suspiciously.

He pulls me back against his chest. “I don’t know, you tell me.”

“Are you just looking for an argument now? Nothing happened. No one spoke to me. Is that what you want to hear?”

His thumb stops moving. “Okay, I know why I’m angry about this situation, but why are you? You got what you wanted, why are you sounding so put out?”

I turn my head to look at his face. “I overheard you talking. I know what you think of me and that you don’t want this.”

He cringes. “Fuck. That isn’t how I wanted to start our marriage,” he mutters, then sighs. “I was pissed. Ignore everything I said.”

If only it were that easy.

I pull away from him.

“Where are you going?” he asks, raising an eyebrow and looking hotter than hell.

I purse my lips, wondering what he wanted. “What’s it to you?”

His mouth twitches. “I own you.”

He did not just say that.

I force my lip to lift up in a smirk. “I’m the princess here Dane. I believe it’s me that owns you. I chose you, remember?”

With that, I tug out of his hold and walk to Sam, who looks between Dane and me with a raised brow. “What did you say to him to look like that?”

“What does he look like?” I ask, not wanting to turn around.

“He’s staring at you, jaw tight and steam coming out of his ears.”

I roll my eyes.

Let him be angry.

“Tell me everything about the hunt.”





Chapter Four




“Ran into a group of about twenty,” he says, leading me outside the building. “They challenged three of their best fighters against ours.”

I sit down on the grass, staring ahead at the great wall of the castle. “So let me guess, Dane, Lars and you kicked their asses?”

Sam’s lips quirk up at the corners. “Of course. We raided an old shopping centre but there was hardly anything there of course. We managed to find a few things. Tegan found some herbs, berries and edible flowers. Got some of those pink honey flowers you like too.”

I smile at him gratefully. “I love those.”

“I know you do,” he replies, his eyes gentle on me. “I grabbed a bunch and told Dane to keep them for you.”

“He probably sucked the honey out of them just to spite me,” I mutter under my breath.

Sam chuckles, shaking his head in amusement. “I don’t know about that Olivia. In fact he asked me about you.”

“What did he want to know?” I ask reluctantly, shifting on the grass.

“How I know you so well, when you usually keep to yourself for one.”

“What did you tell him?” I ask, pulling some of the grass out to keep my hands busy.

Sam shrugs. “I couldn’t exactly say that I found you outside trying to learn how to use weapons by yourself and I felt sorry for you so I taught you.”

I slap his arm. “More like I begged you until you gave in.”

His mouth kicks up at the corners. “That too. I told him we were good friends and left it at that. He seemed curious.”

“I messed up in choosing him,” I admit quietly.

Sam studies me. “I don’t think you did. He’s the leader of your father’s men, I guess it was only natural you’d go for someone like that. No one will protect you better.”

“I know,” I say. “But he doesn’t want to be married. I guess he likes his life how it is. Which is fair. I mean who wants an arranged marriage?”

“Who wants to have to choose a husband because her father made her?” he counters.

I shrug. “I know it isn’t ideal for me either, but I could have chosen someone who would have liked the position.”

Or me, I think to myself. Someone that liked and wanted me would be a plus.

“I guess in the big picture I’m just a small part. I shouldn’t complain. I have it good here, I know I do. Other women have to work and slave away.”