Her Viking Wolves(84)

From the way the Detroit’s fenrir’s eyes do narrow, FJ knows more is being spoken of than the promised engagement. And the Detroit fenrir seems near to panic when he proclaims, “Pop, you don’t understand…”

“No, you don’t fuckin’ understand, Son. You ain’t capable of understanding because you ain’t from Arkansas. You young guns ain’t been raised to respect fated mates the way I do, the way my father taught me. But I know more than a little about this. People always say the way it went down with me and your ma, we must have been fated mates. So you going to have to let me handle this, because once fated mates come into the picture, it ain’t your jurisdiction no more!”

Much of this, FJ does not understand. But the Detroit fenrir must, because a torrent of words issue from his mouth in the way a snake spits venom. “So you want to fuck our kingdom. Throw away everything I’ve worked for—everything you took from that last soft-ass Michigan king fair and square. For some fated mate bullshit? Cuz you think this shit is romantic or something?” He points to FJ, derision written clearly across his face. “I mean do these bitches even have a dowry?”#p#分页标题#e#

The Detroit fenrir gives neither FJ nor his father the chance to answer this question before proclaiming to his father, “If you care anything at all about the future of our kingdom, you will give me back my gun and let me give this overstepping motherfucker the hole in his chest he deserves.”

FJ has a hard time following much of the fenrir’s words, but the anger radiating off the larger man makes his meaning perfectly clear. The Detroit fenrir does not think he and his brother are worthy of the Detroit princess. And moreover, he’d rather kill FJ than give his daughter to him. FJ has had enough.

“Sit down,” he says to their female’s fenrir.

The Detroit fenrir gives great start, as if he has received a grievous insult. “What did you say to me, boy?” His voice all but growls from his mouth.

FJ looks upon him calmly. “I am not a boy. I be a man of five-and-thirty winters.” He nods toward the soft bench once more. “I have explained many things to your father already. Now will I do the same for you and your son.”

“Things like what?” the Detroit fenrir demands, not bothering to take a seat.

FJ is beginning to understand from where his female learned her defiance, despite her claim of having kept company with so few.

“Things like why you will give to me your Detroit princess in marriage.” He then turns his cool gaze to the one called Clyde. “As well as your son’s throne.”





37





“FJ…FJ…FJ!!!”

I keep calling FJ’s name as Olafr drags me from the house. At first Olafr just pulls me along. But when I dig in my heels in an attempt to stay within mind link range of FJ, Olafr sweeps me off my feet. And not in a romantic way. I feel like I’m an unruly child, being carted out of a nice restaurant.

Still, I keep calling out to FJ. Desperately yelling into his mind, until it feels like my brain is hoarse. And Olafr must know the exact moment when I’m out of mind range because he sets me down…then shoves me backwards when I try to run past him.

“Please,” I say into his mind. “We have to go back. He’s all alone, and my dad will kill him!”

I half expect Olafr to ignore me, too. But then his words appear inside my head, deep and somber. “FJ will not let himself be killed this day. Not by that fenrir or by any other. Have no fear, he will come to agreement with your father for your hand.”

I give him a sorrowful shake of my head, wishing but knowing…“My dad will never agree to that.”

“He will,” Olafr assures me grimly.

“Even if he does—which he won’t—but even if he does, he wouldn’t really be agreeing. My dad always has an endgame in mind and it usually involves somebody dying. You don’t understand…”

Olafr’s eyes land on me, hotter than expected after FJ’s cold front. “No, it is you who does not understand! You who left us after giving us your vow!”

“I was only trying to protect you!” I tell him—though this particular conversation feels a little beside the point right now. “I was trying to keep you both safe.”

But my explanation only seems to make Olafr angrier. “Think you we need your protection, Female?” he asks, his face hard with rage.

“Yes,” I answer frankly, raising my chin to glare up at him. “Cuz this ain’t Dungeons and Dragons, okay? It’s the twenty-first century. And it’s one honorable Viking—your brother—versus my crazy-ass father who will do anything to get his way. So yeah, I do think you need my help!”#p#分页标题#e#