I saw a muscle in Teron’s jaw tic as my words hung between us. Of course I didn’t expect him to answer, and it was too late to take them back, so I held his stare with my own and tipped my chin in indignation.
“I’ve allowed you to stay, given a roof over your head, put food in your belly well past the age of your maturity.” He’d switched topics seamlessly, but the look on his face told me I’d been correct in assuming his guardianship of me had been about something more.
I clenched my teeth in frustration but more so in fear. I was afraid of what this meant, or what my future would look like.
Even before I knew the food and furs had been provided by the king, I’d been earning my own coin and purchasing sustenance, fabrics of my own. In fact, I had a small stash of items, things that were just mine, things no one could ever take from me because I’d earned them.
It hadn’t been all his doing for the last year, and not only because Fenrir the destroyer had been providing for us.
But my upbringing hadn’t all been thanks to Teron, and whether he acknowledged that or not didn’t mean a damned thing.
Nothing mattered anymore, because I was now the property of Fenrir the Destroyer.
But despite not having any fear toward my soon-to-be husband, I knew I should be deathly afraid of him. He was a warrior, brutal and savage, with a body count under his leather belt that could bring powerful males to their knees.
“And I get no say in this? No say in how I see my own life going?” I wasn’t a bitter person by nature. I was forgiving, gentle in manner, but right now fire licked through my veins and settled in my heart and gut.
Teron scoffed. “You know we do as the Destroyer says.”
Of course I knew that. I momentarily thought about leaving, but even that wasn’t an option. The village had a massive wall erected all around, protection Fenrir and his warriors had erected once he’d become king. It had been something the village had praised, feeling secure and further safety from the threat of raids and pillaging from other warrior factions.
I couldn’t deny that having Fenrir rule had changed the village for the better. Violent crimes were nonexistent because those who committed them were not heard from again. Fenrir made sure of that. And those who stole, damaged property, or committed aggressions toward the village were swiftly put in their place.
They never did it again, or were never heard from again.
Fear had a human conforming to be a good, obedient follower.
And I’d agreed with them, accepted it with open arms. Until now. Because that wall only had two openings, two “weaknesses.” And they were heavily guarded at all times.
So no, escaping wouldn’t be something I could try. And even if I did have the courage to try and bribe the guards to let me pass, even if I found just one willing to go against Fenrir’s orders, he’d want one thing. He’d want the promise of pleasure with my body. And that wasn’t something I could stomach or give.
But even still, I was marked as the king’s property now. And no one would go against that decree.
What would I really be to him?
His whore? A concubine? A slave girl?
The latter, I could tolerate. The former two, I couldn’t even fathom.
“He’s a beast,” I whispered as I stared at the fire in the silver basin sitting in the center of the hut. It was blasphemy, treason to speak of our ruler in such a way. I knew this. I didn’t care.
Teron was still, his aged body standing beside the fire. I felt his gaze on me, but I knew he felt no compassion toward my plight.
“You’ll be his no matter what you think he is.”
I looked at him, feeling that anger eat at me. “How can you be so cruel.” I didn’t phrase it like a question. “If my father were still alive—”
“He isn’t,” he snapped, cutting me off with a glare and a harsh growl. He cleared his throat and looked toward the door. It was old and scarred but had kept the cold out all these winters. “You’ll be taken when the sun rises. Gather only your prized belongings. You’ll be given to Fenrir the Destroyer. Please him well, and maybe the gods will favor you and he won’t see you as a burden.” As I have.
Those unspoken words hung between us.
“What did my father have over you to bind you to me so?” I asked again. I was on the verge of crying, my anger so strong it was this ferocious creature inside me.
He stared at me for long seconds before diverting his attention back to the fire. I didn’t expect him to answer, of course, but when he glanced at me and our eyes locked, I was shocked to see such malice thrown at me.