I can’t mess this up. It means too much to me.
It means everything.
CHAPTER SIX
Valkyrie
I wake up with teddy Iversen pressed tightly to my chest. Sighing, I roll around in my bed and I don’t think I’ve ever been this content. My new emotions make my body thrive and I feel lighter, happier and like my previously dark world has been dipped in pink glitter. Is this what it feels like to be in love?
If so, it really is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world.
Lifting my head, I smile at the maid when she walks into my room. To my surprise, she’s holding a package in her hands along with the breakfast tray. Sitting up, I ask her about it and she tells me it’s a dress. Of course, the package has already been opened but there’s no sender.
Getting out of bed, I pick up the dress after the maid’s left and twirl around with it. It’s not black and tears prickle my eyes. Finally there’s color and my hands stroke the peach colored fabric.
Iversen.
He must’ve bought it for me and I put it on. I’m amazed when staring at myself in the mirror because I look like a totally different Valkyrie. With this dress, I won’t melt into the walls, I won’t be unnoticeable. This dress screamssee me and love me.
And it follows my curves perfectly and the cut is discreet enough to not raise too many brows. Giving one last twirl, I rush out of the room but not before blowing the teddy a kiss and I’m excited. Energy’s buzzing through me and I can’t wait to see Iversen again.
Yesterday, I spent a great deal of time in front of the mirror checking for any marks but he’d left me unscathed. He kept his promise even though I at one point felt like I was going to be eaten alive from his kissing. It was so intense that I can still feel his lips on mine, his hands around my waist and I’ll slap any other man who tries to touch me.
I’m Iversen’s. All of me and I never would have guessed it felt this good to belong to someone.
Giddy and upbeat, I check the courtyard to see if Iversen is there but he must be away on work for now. I try to ignore the disappointment, and head over to the library. It’s one of the biggest rooms in the house but I don’t like it that much.
There are tons of stuffed animals around, wolves and lynxes and polar bears and they’re all baring their fangs. When I was a kid I always thought they’d come alive at night and eat me. Snorting at the memory, I pull out a deck of cards and start playing solitaire. I’m sitting by the big window, in a corner to myself and suddenly I’m so into the game that I don’t hear them until it’s too late.
Soldiers.
The four that gave me strange looks at the funeral. They’re laughing about something, jabbing at each other and they better not break anything in here or the boss will have their heads. I drag a deep breath, knowing they’ll probably leave before they realize I’m in here. I’m used to it, I’m used to be treated like I’m really not there but then they stop making noise and I frown.
Why did they stop?
I turn my face, only to catch them staring at me and I flush. Frowning, I expect for them to look away but they don’t.
“Almost didn’t see you there,” the one in the middle says. “I like that new outfit you’re wearing.”
Biting my lip, I whisper, “How dare you address me?” When they don’t respond, I rise, “I’ll pretend it didn’t happen.” With my chin in the air and my mind on Iversen, I try to pass but they block me. They stand in my way, refusing to let me through the door.
“What are you doing?” I cross my arms. “Move out of my way or you’ll pay for this.”
“She speaks...,” one of them says and I squirm, “and she’s not wearing those ugly clothes anymore.” He chuckles. “Looking for a husband are you?” He raises a hand. “I volunteer.”
“I’ll p...pass,” I stutter. “I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole.”
Proud of myself for standing up to them, I move past them but freeze when I feel a hand on my buttocks. It’s not groping or squeezing me but it’s still a grave violation and I flood with chagrin. Swiping around, I let out a hiss and grab the soldier around his throat. My thumb presses into a point on the side that causes him to gasp for air and his eyes flare.
He could try to fight me and so could the other three but they’d be dead then and they’re not quite that stupid. I press a little harder. “Learned your lesson y...yet?” I scold and he nods. I’m about to release him when I feel a presence in the room. It’s vicious and deadly and the fuzz on my nape stands. I’m shivering even before a hand clasps over mine and I pant, letting go of the soldier.
Iversen’s sneering and he’s not as gentle as I am. With his hand in a death grip around the soldier’s throat, he pushes him against the bookshelf. His grip is so strong it lifts the perpetrator off the ground and the soldier’s boots dangle in the air. He’s gulping for air, struggling to breathe but his efforts only piss Iversen off and he slams his head into the shelf, causing books to fall down and I put my hand in front of my mouth.
He’s going to kill him.
Walking over to him, I plead. “Iversen, maybe that’s enough...”
It’s like he doesn’t hear me. His eyes are dark as pits and they’re fastened on his target, his lips pulled over his teeth and the veins on his arm bulge. It’s like he’s entered a trance and I can’t reach him. I start whimpering when I fear he’ll seriously kill the soldier.