A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

Author:Danielle L. Jensen [Jensen, Danielle L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Worlds
Published: 2024-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

I wrenched free from my attacker, swinging my fist toward the shadowy face, only to pull up short as I recognized Bjorn in the dark.

“What are you doing out here, Freya?” he hissed. “Anyone could take you.”

Relief flooded my veins, though it was replaced by irritation. “Where did you go?”

“There was someone I needed to speak to,” he said. “When I returned to the hall, you were gone. I’ve been hunting for you. Where have you been?”

“Looking for you. And spying.” Then I blurted out, “Ylva is working with Harald.”

He went still. “What are you talking about?”

“I overheard them speaking in the Hall of the Gods,” I hissed. “She’s conspiring with him to kill you so Snorri will have to name Leif heir.”

Silence.

Slowly, Bjorn asked, “You saw Ylva speaking to Harald?”

We didn’t have time for this. We needed to find Snorri. “I didn’t see her, but I heard enough of the conversation. I…” My words trailed off, because through the trees, warriors who looked incredibly sober were walking among the revelers, examining the face of everyone they came across.

“I don’t know if she convinced him to take you or if he still plans to kill you,” Bjorn whispered, then pulled on my arm. “I need to get you to my father and his warriors.”

“Where is he?” I hissed, tripping over a root as I followed him at a trot.

“Meeting with other jarls. This way.”

I was forced to break into a run to keep up, but then Bjorn slid to a stop. Ahead of us, men carrying torches walked through the trees, searching the shadows. We turned, but behind us there were more men.

“How many warriors does Harald have?” Fear turned my hands to ice because there was nowhere to go. Unarmed as we were, there was no chance this number of men wouldn’t be able to subdue us. Then it was only a matter of dragging us outside the borders of Fjalltindr and tossing us off the mountain.

“Too many.” Bjorn turned to me. “We’ll have to hide in plain sight.”

I could feel the hammer of his heart where my hand pressed against his chest, feel the quickening of his breath that betrayed his fear, magnifying my own. “How?”

“Do you trust me?”

More than I should, I thought, but only nodded. “Yes.”

“Follow my lead,” he said and pulled the hood of his cloak forward. I didn’t have so much as a heartbeat to wonder what that might entail before his mouth closed over mine.

For a second, I froze, so astonished that Bjorn was kissing me that I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. And then instinct took over and my arms slipped around his neck, and I kissed him back.

Bjorn stilled, and I wondered if he’d expected me to slap him rather than respond in kind. Except not only did I understand that this ruse could save our necks, I wanted Bjorn to kiss me.

And I didn’t want it to stop there.

Bjorn’s surprise vanished in an instant, his hands catching me by the hips

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