Page 39 of Blood Red Rage

“Yes,” I muttered, trying not to feel weirdly exposed.

His jaw flexed. “Alone?”

I exhaled, annoyed. “Yes, Viking. Alone. Like most adults.”

Something in his expression sharpened. Like the idea of me alone in this space pissed him off on a cellular level. Then he strode into my bedroom which had me hurry after him. “We’re only here to grab my clothes. That’s it.”

Viking opened my wardrobe, his face darkened. It wasn’t even my fault, because my wardrobe was… practical. Work blouses, pencil skirts, jumpers, there were a couple of dresses and not much else.

He stared at my clothes like they were personally offending him. “This is all you own?” he asked.

“Some people don’t buy designer outfits for fun,” I snapped.

He grunted. “We’ll fix it.”

I spun to face him. “You will do no such thing…”

A knock sounded at my door, my entire body froze as Viking’s head snapped toward the sound so fast it was terrifying. Draugr stilled like a predator scenting blood. The knock came again, then a voice, a familiar male voice.

“Bryn?” Tom called. “Are you in there? You didn’t answer your texts. Steph’s losing her mind.”

Oh no, my stomach dropped. Tom, of course it would be Tom. He lived down the hall, a sweet, funny and helpful type of neighbour who carried my groceries when my arms were full and helped me change a lightbulb once without making it weird.

But the way Viking went still… I suddenly realized Viking didn’t categorize men as “nice” or “helpful.” He categorized them as threats.

I moved quickly, stepping toward the door. “It’s just Tom.”

Viking’s voice turned lethal. “Who.”

“My neighbour,” I said firmly. “He is just a friend, nothing else.”

Viking’s eyes narrowed. “He knocks on your door at night.”

“Well, he’s worried…” The door rattled again triggering Viking to move. I didn’t even see him cross the room. One second, he was near my wardrobe, the next he was at my front door. He yanked it open so hard it banged into the wall.

Tom blinked. He took one look at Viking and visibly short-circuited. “Uh… hi. Sorry, I didn’t know you…”

Viking grabbed him, it happened so fast my brain barely processed it. He hooked a hand under Tom’s throat and lifted him clean off the ground, slamming him into the hallway wall like he weighed nothing. Tom made a strangled sound, hands scrabbling at Viking’s wrist.

“What the hell…!”

My heart jumped into my throat. “VIKING!”

Viking’s eyes burned. “Who are you?”

Tom’s face was turning red. He wheezed. “Tom…”

Viking leaned closer, voice calm in the worst way. “You want to touch her.”

Tom’s eyes widened in panic. “No!”

“Yes,” Viking said. “I can smell it.”

I stared, shocked. Smell it?

I grabbed Viking’s arm, tugging. “Viking, stop! Let him go!” But Viking didn’t move.

His gaze flicked to me. “He wants you.”