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“You can be surrounded by people and never feel like a single one truly knows you.”
“I open your heart to the woman who walks into your life. It is your responsibility to take care of your troll wife. You will keep her safe, keep her happy, and you will put her needs above all others. Even your own.”
Because he had the sneaky suspicion that if he caught anyone looking at his wife the way he had just been staring at her, he’d get into a fight. He’d rip their eyes out of their head if they saw what he did, even his own brother. Those were sights for his gaze only.
And then he stalked away before he did something else stupid. Like hold those delicate little feet in his hands and heal every single wound. Like throw sand in his brother’s face and then lock tusks with him just because Gunnar got to eat breakfast with her and he didn’t.
“Fuck, no. That’s hilarious. Silly little thing, we meant the ones on his cock.”
He wanted to kiss her. He’d wipe that snotty expression off her face and bring her down onto the bed of leaves at her feet. He’d ravage her right here in the forest until she screamed so loud the other trolls would hear her. All just to wipe that smug expression off her face. But she wouldn’t welcome that. Not when she was so angry at him.
He’d known it was a bad idea to be alone with her. But now that he’d discovered her ire, he found he rather liked her.
“Fear is what limits us. You can let it control your life, or you can control it. The choice is up to you.”
“She’s yours, Ragnar, more than I’ve seen in a hundred years. That woman was made for you and you for her.”
“I rarely go back on my word, but yes. You were born for me, fire hair. And so I will keep you.”
He dropped his arms, his hands sliding down planes of muscle that were so tempting. No. Not tempting. They were simply not tempting. Maia wasn’t thinking about how warm he looked and how desperately she wanted to slide her hands in the same path. She definitely didn’t want to know what those abs would feel like flexing against her palms, or if he would clench like he had the last time she’d touched his stomach while moving her hand toward—
“I’m so sorry that all you have seen of my kind is anger and hate. Not all of us rejoice in the pain of your people, Ragnar, and I know nothing I say will take those memories away. But I am here. I will help for as long as I’m able.”
“What are you doing?” she whispered. “Hush, my wife. I need to remember that something is alive tonight.” “Oh.”
She could see how much that affected the man. Even the one behind him flinched and shoved his wife toward the trolls on instinct. Perhaps in an offering, or perhaps to try to save himself first. The woman staggered, then fell onto her hands and knees.
What an ass
“Will you come somewhere with me, Maia? Or do you want to go home?” She looked at him with so much hope in those eyes that it made his entire body ache. She trusted him beyond measure, this woman. Even if she shouldn’t. “I’ll go anywhere with you,” she whispered.
“Magnificent,” King Egil breathed. “And there’s our proof. Now, I need you all to join me on this plan, because it is a risk. I do truly believe, however, that if we wish to beat this king, first we will need to find all the human women who are willing and make ourselves a stronger enemy.” The murmur of agreement from Ragnar’s brethren made something in his stomach twist. And when he looked at Gunnar, he could see his brother felt the same.
“You cannot stay here. You will come with me, and the others will see to it that you are taken care of.”
Maybe its just me, but i dont trust her
“I’d rather be here with you. That’s what gets me through the day, you know. I imagine taking you back to the illuminated glen. Or perhaps we’d go on a journey across your lands, camping underneath the stars.
“I wouldn’t know how to live outside of this place, troll wife. It has been too long, and I have been too damaged.” Yet again, her heart squeezed. The things that had been done to this man, to all the people here... they were wrong. So incredibly wrong.
“I love you,” he said. “I love you so much. I should have said it a thousand times before this moment, and I am ashamed that I have not. I love you more than the mountains beneath our feet, my fire hair.” Those big, green eyes stared up at him and he swore there was laughter in those depths. “I know.” He blinked. “You what?” “I know you love me.” There was a giggle in those words. “I’ve known it for a while, I think. But I love you too, you know.”
“You will go with your troll wife and you will keep her safe. I am broken and bloody, brother. I have been for a very long time. But your troll wife reminded me that I still have some honor left. Let me do this for you. Let me go.”
