Page 97 of A Spark So Bright
"Right," Rose muttered, before looking up at Bjorn who was breathing through his nose like an ox. With gentle hands, she reached for him.
She watched her sister and Bjorn freeze as Rose touched him for the very first time. And it was terrifying. Of course it was. He reminded her of all those dark days, and all the times she hadfled from her own life, and how she still had a lot of guilt for not facing those memories head on. Even if she couldn't.
Trembling like a leaf, she said firmly, "I was the one who bonded us, Bjorn. With the guidance of those who have come before. The spirit of a blood witch guided my hand, and I made the choice. If you should be angry with anyone, it should be me. I bonded with him while he was paralyzed."
Bjorn stared down at her with wide eyes. His gaze trailed to her hands against his chest, and then back up to her eyes. "You're braver than you were before."
"I've always been brave. I just didn't want anyone to know until I felt safe." She cleared her throat and took her hands off his chest. "I do now, in case you were wondering. I'm not... I'm not going to leave again. I don't really want to, if I'm being honest. I'd like to be present and part of your lives, if you'll let me."
Oh, no.
The big man had tears welling in his eyes. What was she supposed to do now? Hug him? She still didn't like to be touched.
Gods, he didn't like to be touched.
What was she supposed to do? Rose was done forcing herself to do what other people wanted just because she was smaller or weaker. So she reached out and patted his shoulder. A couple of times. Just a few hardy slaps that hopefully proved she cared that he was upset. In some way.
With a gurgled sound that rumbled in his throat, he sniffed hard enough that she could hear the snot going back up his nasal passages, and then nodded. "Right, we need to talk with the king, then."
"Why do we need to talk to him?"
"I can't bring you to a blood witch and then have her find out that you've already bonded. He'll get angry and think the samething I did, so it's best to bite the head off the snake now." Bjorn stepped away from both of them, although she could see how hard it was for him to do.
Maybe he wasn't the terrifying man she had thought him to be. Maybe he'd never been that man at all. He just wanted someone to hold on to him too, just like everyone had in that place.
Rose frowned, but then nodded. "I'm all right if we do that. I don't mind talking with the king."
Except she kind of did. He terrified her, just as much as everything else. But as they all started walking toward where the king still stood at the podium, Rhydian strode beside her. And she felt a little stronger because of his presence.
"Is he really going to be angry?" she asked Rhydian.
Bjorn started answering, but Rhydian talked over him. “Yes, he's going to be furious. There is a reason the trolls do these things the way they always have. But that's all right. You have a trick up your sleeve."
"Which is?"
Bjorn and Astrid both stopped talking and looked at her oddly.
"Sorry," Rose said, "I'm talking to the dead."
That gave her even stranger looks from her siblings, but she didn't have time to explain her newfound power. Instead, she looked around them to see that Gunnar was already standing with the king. Apparently, her mate had the same thought as Bjorn and Astrid. And yes, King Egil did look furious as he watched the three of them approach.
But there was a woman standing next to him, as she usually was. The queen herself. She smiled as Rose approached them, and that radiant look on her face told Rose that everything was going to be all right.
"And you?" the king snarled. "What do you have to say for yourself? Tradition exists for a reason, young lady. You will be punished for this, both of you. I promised your sister that I would look out for you, but I cannot put my kingdom at risk. Not even for you."
Young lady. No one had called her that in a very long time.
Rose smiled up at him and didn't worry that she maybe looked a little daft with that expression on her face. But she knew everything was going to be all right. Because before Rose could even speak, the queen was already talking to her.
"Ask him about my perfume," the queen said. "Rose hip and sandalwood. I always sprayed it on myself first thing in the morning, and he would spend the evening chasing down the scent that had worn off my skin. He misses it. But it’s the only thing that will remind him of love."
Rose took a deep breath. "Rosehip and sandalwood."
The king frowned. "Excuse me?"
"Rosehip and sandalwood," she repeated. "You chased it for most of your life, seeking that smell. But you can't find it anymore. Because the smell was always better when it was mixed with her scent."
His face paled. She watched his wings wilt behind him, and for the first time, she saw the king look frightened. "Careful what you say, girl. You have no right to speak of that. This does not endear me to your plight. I can throw you out of this kingdom."
