Her Viking Wolves(101)
However, the smug expression stays firmly in place. “Your father did ask the same question during our marriage contract talk. I will tell you now what I told him. When Aunt Alisha did call upon the Norwegian pack, they gave her the news that money had been set aside for us should we come to your land and your time. For this reason was I given the land upon which several of our villages did sit, along with an honorary title, so I might have dowry enough to bestow upon my fated mate. My ancestors honored their duty well and moreover gave the fruits harvested from the sale of my lands good seeding throughout these many seasons.”#p#分页标题#e#
I scrunch my forehead, trying to keep up with his explanation. “Do you mean they spent centuries investing the money set aside for you?”
FJ gives one sharp nod. “Yea, invested—this same word did Aunt Alisha use. And for this reason do my brother and I now find ourselves in possession of great fortune. While you did sleep after our first kiss, there came message from the one called Matt. His sorcerer friend gave my sword great study and gleaned that the reason it was able to pierce the terrible serpent’s skin was because it was made of a stronger material than most swords and weapon. Something he referred to as Damascus steel. But this kind of steel could not be found in my lands. Found or made. Nay, it did come from far Eastern lands, yet this be the kind of steel we need if we hope to take sword against our serpent enemy.”
Again, I’m having to process his words in order to understand them. But soon enough I figure out he’s talking about Matt, the historian Alisha called in to help her figure out who’d attacked FJ’s kingdom town. And the “sorcerer” must be the wolf biologist they asked to test the blood on the FJ’s sword.
“So before you mated with me, before you came all the way out here to Detroit, you found out you needed steel,” I realize on a whisper.
“Yea, steel,” he says with a grave nod. “Much of it. Enough to provide swords to all the North Wolves.”
I nod, as it all clicks into place. I’d watched just enough of the History Channel to know crafting a sword as fine as the one FJ carries took a while back in the day. And from what he was saying, his people didn’t have that kind of time—or the resources if the kind of steel used in his sword was only produced in the Far East. What FJ needed was some way of producing a shit ton of weapons in the little time they had before the dragons completely took over.
“And we’re the only North American pack with a steel factory,” I conclude out loud.
Another grave nod from FJ. “For this reason, did we make contract with this land’s former fenrir. He who has a son who will not be able to sire a pup of his own because of his love for another man. As the new fenrir of your pack, I will bestow upon it my great wealth. In exchange, your father will oversee the making of many swords with which we will use to vanquish our enemy. While we do this, your brother will rule in my stead until my return. But before I go, your pack must accept me as their fenrir so your brother might rule without question of his…” FJ trails off for a few seconds, obviously searching for a word to explain Clyde’s status as a gay wolf, “…not taking a she-wolf to wife.”
Wow. My whole mind is blinking as everything finally falls into place.
Well that explains why my dad let the wedding happen with a Speak Now ritual attached. If it had gone according to his plan, not only would our pack have gotten all of FJ’s money upon his death, since I’m carrying his baby, but he’d still be able to put Clyde in charge. No harm, no foul to anyone but FJ.
But he hadn’t won. Instead FJ got everything he’d asked for. His swords and the Detroit pack, with me thrown in to sweeten the deal.
I shake my head as the truth of what really happened in that cabin sinks in.
“Good job, FJ,” I say, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. “I underestimated you. I was beginning to think you were just like my father, but you’re way worse.”
FJ goes completely still. “I. Am. Nothing. Like. Your. Father.”
“Well, let’s see…my father’s used me from the day I was born to advance his power. And you’ve used me from the day you found out I was from a family who could get you swords to advance your power. But I guess what you did was completely different because…dragons?” I shake my head at him in mock confusion.#p#分页标题#e#
FJ’s nose flares. “Do not open your mouth against me again by comparing me to your father. I order this as your fenrir, Female!”