Page 85 of Blood Red Rage

There was a long silence, I looked down at my hands. They'd killed men, broken bones, held weapons, held Bryn's blood. Now those same hands rested uselessly against my knees while my brothers dismantled every excuse I'd built over the last two weeks.

“I hate all of you.”

Lucien smiled. “Progress.”

“Fuck yourself.”

“There he is.” I stood. Roman watched me. “What are you going to do?”

“Find my mate.”

“And?”

I glared at him. “Try not to be a fucking lunatic.”

Lucien raised his glass. “To personal growth.”

I flipped him off. Draugr chuckled as I reached the door, Volken called after me. “Viking.” I looked back. “The fear doesn't mean you're failing.” My hand tightened around the handle. “It means you have something worth being afraid to lose.” For once, I had nothing sarcastic to say, I only nodded and then left.

I found Bryn outside, of course I fucking did. She was sitting beneath one of the enormous trees at the edge of the gardens with Runa, Sorcha and Layla. The kids were all playing close by. Kosta stood ten feet away, Luka was farther back and Nico was near the path.

Three guards were reasonable. I could work with three. Probably. Bryn saw me approaching. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. The other women saw me too. One by one, they stood. Runa patted Bryn's shoulder. Sorcha grinned at me as Layla merely said, “Don't mess it up.” Then all three walked away. Traitors. I stopped in front of Bryn and waited until she looked up at me. “Well?”

I shoved my hands into my pockets, that seemed safest. “You can come downstairs.” Her eyebrows lifted.

“And?”

“Walk around.”

“And?”

“Use the stairs.”

“Wow. Such freedom.”

“Don't push it.”

Her lips twitched but I sighed. “And you can walk in the gardens.”

“Alone?”

“No.”

“Viking.”

“One guard.”

She stared at me.

“Two.”

“One.”

“Two.”

“One, and Luka stays within hearing distance.” She considered it.

“Fine.” Victory. Then she narrowed her eyes. “And you're not calling the doctor every time I sneeze.”