“Well, he was supposed to come with us, but he tripped or some shit,” Kingston added.
“Will someone get this fool some clothes?” Nord called out.
“Or perhaps a muzzle,” Søren muttered, making Noah snicker and Kingston glower.
The woman standing closest to the throne stepped forward. “I’m sure I can find some clothing that will suit him. Though he is quite scrawny.”
“Scrawny? Who the hell you calling scrawny, Brunhilda?”
Nord’s pleasant expression vanished, and he rose slowly from his throne, face thunderous. “You will hold your tongue. Strega is a fierce warrior who will have your balls for breakfast if given half the chance.”
“Say the word, and I’ll slit his throat and bathe in his blood.”
Kingston swallowed. “Maybe I was a bit hasty.”
“Don’t kill him, but take him with you. Perhaps some time in your presence will school his attitude.”
Strega pulled a dagger from the sheath at her thigh. “Follow me, puppy. But if you try anything, I’ll stab first and apologize later.”
Kingston shot me a wary glance, but I nodded. “Go with her. You need clothes, and I need to be able to talk without you getting us all killed on principle.”
He smirked. “That’s fair. I’ll be back, Sunshine.”
“Do I have to bring him back? I could take him to the docks and toss him in.”
“We do need to feed the kraken...” Nord mused, a smile playing on his lips.
“Excuse me, a kraken? No one said shit about a kraken,” Kingston said, panic making his voice high and tight.
“Is it my birthday? I’m rather enjoying Novasgard.”
I leveled a glare at Noah. “Well,I’mrather attached to him, so let’s make sure they bring him back, please.”
“Your wolf will remain intact, little one. As long as he behaves. As for the vampire...” Nord started, “I guess that remains to be seen.”
I cleared my throat, not wanting Noah to start in on the alpha male posturing too. “I think we’ve gotten a little off-topic.”
“That happens quite often,” Nord said. “Especially when dealing with humans.”
Søren grunted his agreement. “Mouthy fuckers.”
“So are Vikings,” I ground out.
Nord’s laughter boomed around the chamber. He sat back down, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. “This kitten has balls.”
“That’s not how the expression...” Noah began, but shut his mouth almost as soon as he started. “Never mind. That one suits just as well.”
“Thanks for that,” Nord said dryly before turning his attention back to me. “Now, why did you come all this way to see my son? You can’t have been close. He would have mentioned you.”
Pain sliced my heart, but I stood tall. “He’s my mate.”
Nord’s posture stiffened. “What?”
“And I’m pregnant.”
“Frigg’s fucking foreskin,” Søren gasped.
Something lit up inside Nord. “Strega!” His bellow rang out so loud I felt the vibration in my chest, and the wyvern skeleton suspended above us shook. “Get my son and my wife.”