Page 109 of A Spark So Bright
With a low growl, he wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged her into his arms.
Gunnar took his time looking her over, seeing the soul that was so firmly planted in her body, and the ease in her muscles. She'd come so far from the pretty but vacant woman he had brought here over a year ago. She'd blossomed, just as Maia had wished for them to do.
"I am always so impressed when I look at you," he murmured, drawing her close to kiss her one last time. "You are so much braver than any person I know."
"That's not true. I don't go into battle and kill people."
"You've killed to protect yourself. You speak with the dead. And now you walk through Trollveggen with a confidence I didn't think I would ever witness."
Her cheeks turned bright red. "Gunnar. I am not that strong. If you took me out of Trollveggen then I'm sure this would be avery different story. I rarely even see other humans here, and I can't promise I would be this strong, capable person if I did."
"Then it's a good thing I don't intend for you to leave Trollveggen all that often," he replied, scooping her up into his arms for one last bone crushing hug before turning to the door. "All right, let’s bathe first, and then we can track down the prince."
Except, when he opened the door Magnus was already resting on the wall right beside it. Leaning a shoulder against the stone, he waggled his eyebrows at Gunnar. "I knew you'd come around."
Gunnar groaned. "I have hated every moment since you've returned to this kingdom."
"Ah, you haven't hated every moment. Walk with me to the bath houses and I'll fill you in."
Sighing, he tucked Rose underneath his arm and did just that. Because what else was he supposed to do?
Family and friends were ever so tedious. But maybe he loved them a bit for it.
Forty-Two
Rose
Rose couldn't help but find amusement in the way these two men argued with each other. Magnus and Gunnar didn't stop their jabs even while she and Gunnar bathed.
She listened from behind the screen Gunnar had set up, because gods forbid Magnus see her in any state of undress. He simply would not have it, and she found that so amusing. And reassuring. Thankfully, she didn't even have to worry about what a man would see or think. Gunnar did all that worrying for her.
The security she felt in her life now that she had him around was a massive change. Now she could relax. She could feel as though there was someone looking out for her and that he was going to keep her safe.
So she bathed quietly, listening to them insult each other back and forth.
"She is my troll wife now, Magnus. Just because you were competing for her attention does not mean you get to have time with her still."
"Oh, I'm supposed to ask your permission to see her?"
"You need to ask one of us, damn it."
"I'm the prince! I can do whatever I want."
Back and forth. On and on. The two men were like siblings who had never gotten along. Biting her lips so she didn't laugh, Rose made quick work of her bath and then came out from behind the curtain with her clothing slightly damp, but feeling much better. She hadn't realized how dirty they had made each other. At least, until now.
The two men were still arguing. Gunnar was somehow nude yet again, and completely uncaring that Magnus could see him. She thought there was a bit of bravery in that. Gunnar was always so certain that he was safe where he was, and didn't care who was looking at him. How the man had gotten like that, she would never understand.
Rose cleared her throat, and both of them stopped arguing to look at her.
"Weren't we going to have a serious conversation, boys?" She looked them both over one last time before pointing to the door. "I'm going to get Astrid."
"We don't need Astrid," Magnus said.
"Oh, we do. She knew the princess better than I did, and likely had to deal with her on many occasions. In fact, I think I should get Maia as well. She knows a lot about the castle itself and probably would be able to give us an idea of what the townsfolk will think about all of it." Rose smiled at him prettily, knowing that he couldn't argue with her reasoning.
And then off she went.
It was very easy to gather up her sister and Maia, especially once she said that the princess was working on something suspicious and the prince would like their opinions. Of course, that meant their husbands came as well.
