s into the castle. We were guided into a large room with a lone stone table. It was very sparsely decorated, with only a few tapestries lining the walls. Aric and I sat down at one end and waited for Thranar to join us. It didn’t take long.
He strode in unescorted, as expected. Even though his forces had been defeated, he walked in with a cocky arrogance that only he was capable of pulling off. I had to hide the sneer on my lips as he sat down at the table with us. His lower jaw wagged back and forth just like a snake and my stomach churned with revulsion.
My gaze dropped to his hands and I remembered all the bruises he’d left on Luna’s pale skin. He was a sorry excuse for an alpha, an abusive bastard who deserved nothing but an arrow right between his eyes. Aric had taken me hard and particularly roughly during the breaking of my heat, but he hadn’t left any marks like that on me. Not a single one. I glanced at him and then back at Thranar. They were two very different alphas. Aric was worlds above this false king. Aric cared for me in everything he did and the more time I spent with him, the more it became apparent that he enjoyed doing it. He also wasn’t afraid to let me lead either. Thranar would have never allowed me that right. I had no doubt I would have been bound in those same chains had he been able to take me for his own.
I waited for Thranar to begin. I wanted him to begin offering terms of surrender and after that, I would counter. He would learn that I wasn’t going to just take his first offer.
“It seems I wasn’t quite prepared for an attack of this caliber,” Thranar said. I saw him visibly pull his anger back in an effort to appease me. He’d lost and he knew it. His cockiness was still there though. He couldn’t hide that.
“I can imagine,” I answered cagily.
“I don’t think I’ve met your friend, Freya,” he replied, his gaze bouncing curiously from me to Aric. I noticed that he had purposefully dropped my title too. Aric cleared his throat in irritation.
“You will refer to her as Queen Freya, Thranar. Do not insult the woman that just infiltrated your city and defeated all of your forces,” he paused, letting my enemy really feel the full effect of his chastisement. When Thranar appeared to drop his head in a silent apology, Aric started to speak once more. “Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, my name is Aric. I am King of Valgertha,” my alpha continued. I smiled softly, glancing toward him with respect. I very much appreciated how he let me take charge in the company of others.
“It is good to meet you, King Aric,” Thranar answered carefully this time. He was well aware of the dichotomy of power between the three of us now. Aric and I had taken control. Together.
Thranar still looked between the two of us, trying to figure out who was in charge. I decided to take control and show him.
“Enough of the frivolities, Thranar. You wanted to meet to discuss your surrender and we accepted. What do you have to offer?” I demanded. I’d had enough of his games. I’d already been at the end of his blade and I’d seen what he’d done to his omega. The less that I was in his presence, the better for us all. I waited, imagining how it would feel to tear his head right off his shoulders right then. The asshole didn’t even flinch.
“I want you to leave my city, Queen Freya. I also want to ensure that you don’t return either,” he finally replied.
“What are you offering, Thranar? Right now, I can’t decide what I’d like to do with your city. I could burn it to the ground. I could take it for myself, or I could leave it under your rule, but you’d have to make that last option very, very attractive to me if that’s what you really want,” I demanded.
He licked his lips, his hatred for me burning behind his eyes. I could only imagine what he would do if he could get his hands on me right now.
“An alliance of peace. Ravenrath will pay a tribute to you for a period of three years. I will also provide one thousand warriors for your conquests,” he offered finally.
“Tell me more about the tribute you’re offering,” I continued, “I expect a fair offering of coin, food, and drink, along with expensive silks and riches.”
“We will offer five thousand coin, one hundred tons of food, and the best wine we have to offer, as well as one hundred tons of the finest silk we can procure from upriver,” he offered.
I drummed my fingernails on the table, listening to the tapping sounds echo throughout the chamber. Thranar fidgeted just the slightest bit in annoyance, but I didn’t pay him any mind. He didn’t hold the power here any longer.
“You will pay us ten thousand coin each year for five years. You will also provide two hundred tons of food, two hundred tons of the finest mead and wine you make, as well as five hundred tons of the best silk that comes into your hands. Not only that, but you will provide one thousand fully trained warriors to join my army. Not once, but each year that you offer tribute,” I commanded.
His lips tensed before he remembered himself. Thranar wasn’t used to obeying demands, but I had quite thoroughly defeated him. He’d never lost to anyone, let alone a woman, and it was more than obvious that he was far outside his comfort zone.
“I agree to your terms,” he finally murmured. I could have sworn he pouted when he muttered the words.
“I’m pleased. Remember though, if you break the terms of this alliance, Valgertha will come for you and you won’t survive the next time,” I warned.
“I will honor the terms of this arrangement,” he answered, but I couldn’t help but distrust his words.
Thranar would eventually want to conquer the woman who conquered him.
Thranar signaled for an attendant to join us and had him draft up the peace agreement. I read it carefully ensuring that everything we agreed upon was put down on paper before the three of us signed it. At the end of the meeting, I gave Thranar a firm handshake, even though it made my insides quiver with disgust. His fingers were cold and gripped at mine possessively, but I did my best to ignore it. Aric did the same, keeping his composure by my side. We were offered wine and food, but we declined. I didn’t want to eat anything he served me. Poison wasn’t outside the realm of possibility here. I’d only be safe once I was back inside the walls of Valgertha, surrounded by my people and my alpha’s arms.
When we were done, my warriors escorted me out of the castle, and I joined the rest of my army waiting outside. Our combined forces wasted no time moving out. With haste, I returned to the riverbank and boarded my longboat before beginning the long journey upriver. It would be harder on my rowers, but the current wasn’t especially strong. We would make good time although it would still take us three days to return home. Aric would be there waiting for me when I arrived and I was looking forward to shedding my armor and lying naked against him once again. I kept that image in my mind as we made our way along the waters.
* * *
Three days later, my fleet slipped into the docks of Valgertha and disembarked to the wild cheers of those who had remained back home. There were copious amounts of beer and wine thrust into our hands as we walked through the streets. Celebrations lasted long into the night.
A great feast had been prepared and I enjoyed every last bite. Before it was over, I congratulated those who fought by my side and made sure to credit them with our great victory. After a few drinks, I excused myself and Aric followed. My advisors quickly informed me that Luna had indeed arrived and that she was being taken care of in the medical wing. I made sure to tell them to give her the very best we had to offer. When I was through taking care of a few additional things, I made my way back toward my chambers.
When I entered my bedroom, Ariana was there changing the bedsheets. She nodded respectfully in my direction, before she cleared her throat and looked expectantly at Aric. I glanced from her to him and lifted an eyebrow. He smirked knowingly.