Everly~
"Why? Why am I in danger?"
I took a step toward Kaes, but my legs betrayed me. The sudden loss of such a great amount of energy left me feeling depleted and weak, but Ronan steadied me.
Kaes ignored my question, locking eyes with Ronan over the top of my head.
"You know what he'll do to her." It was a chilling statement that I didn't understand.
"Who?" I begged for someone to acknowledge me.
"King Ragnar." Talon replied, but didn't look at me.
"What will he do to me?" My words were desperate and apparently unnoticed. "By the gods will someone speak to me!"
Ronan tightened his hold on me and Kaes finally let his eyes drift down toward me.
"He will use you as a weapon...or worse."
"What could be worse?" I scoffed, trying to hide the fear in my voice.
"An heir." Talon added with a deep scowl on his face.
My head whipped up toward Ronan who towered over me, unmoved and silent. He didn't protest or reassure me which meant the things that Kaes and Talon were saying were true.
Pushing off of Ronan's chest, I stumbled forward before regaining my footing and straightening my spine.
"And if I refuse on both counts?"
"Ragnar doesn't take no for an answer." Talon said flatly.
His response caused Ronan's lip to snarl in disgust and my stomach to churn. Anger bubbled beneath my skin and I took a strong step forward.
"Then I will disembowel him while he sleeps." I growled through gritted teeth.
"You can't" Talon said, dropping his head in defeat. It was a look I'd never seen him wear before.
"Did you not see what I am capable of? Of course I can." It was laughable for Talon to suggest that I lacked the ability to kill, having watched me accomplish the task effortlessly before his own eyes.
"Not without consequence." Ronan added coldly.
"I would shoulder any consequence." My words were stern and strong. "Even if it cost me my life."
"And Ronan's life? What of that?" Kaes asked in an icy tone that stole my breath.
My eyes moved toward Ronan, toward my mate whose serious expression was dissolving into guilt.
"I do not understand." I admitted expecting Ronan to defend me. I had expected Ronan to defend my honor, to threaten the great king on my behalf. Why was he so quiet at the mention of such a threat?
Without saying a word, my mate took a step forward, removing the leathers that covered his skin. I watched as his bare chest was on display with various inked patterns splashed across it. With one hand he reached up and tapped a symbol that had been carved into the flesh that covered his heart. I had noticed it before, but Ronan was covered in scars and markings, none of which had been deemed significant.
"If Ragnar dies. I die." Ronan stated with no emotion in his voice.
My head recoiled in confusion as I moved toward my mate, placing my hand atop the branded flesh of his chest.
"What is this?"
"A vow."
"So break it."
Taking my hand in his, Ronan looked down at me with a sorrowful expression that made my heart ache and fear swell in my gut.
