Page 135 of Ravenous

“I like you bulbous,” Torben said sincerely.

She tweaked his nose. “So let’s eat, grow this bump some more, then return to our den.” In a softer, smiling tone, she said, “Leave these goings-on for those with more cares.”

Their love felt like its own small universe. Lia was happy for them but envious too, wishing she could set out on the grand adventure of matehood.

Yet for the first time, hope flickered for her own future. If she could earn Arctos’s friendship, maybe she’d find belonging here.

As platters of roasted game filled the tables, Dagny said, “So tell me all about you.”

Lia gave an overview of the last few weeks, speaking over clattering mugs and shouted songs. She noticed Berserkers sneaking glances at her, so she exaggerated her chewing.

A scuffle broke out nearby. Then another. Sentries waded in to separate combatants.

“What a…vigorous bunch!” Lia observed.

Dagny chuckled. “With so many Berserkers gathered, brawls are inevitable. Usually harmless, though I’ve never seen quite this many.”

The females’ conversation drifted to swords, clothes, arrow weights, and battle braids. Lia found herself smiling often.

Now and again, Berserkers approached Shieldchief Arctos, many clearly in awe of him. More than one spoke of the battles ahead this Accession and how they slept better knowing he would train their warriors.

Their words softened his usual reserve.

When another fight broke out—this one closer to the dais—Arctos and Torben both stood. Torben kissed Dagny’s hand. “I’ll be back soon.”

“And I’ll count the moments, my love,” she murmured, serious and tender.

Arctos gave Lia a distracted nod. She awkwardly lifted a fist in encouragement.Go get them.

Dagny sighed as she watched them go. “I really will count the moments. I hate being apart from him.”

“What a connection you share,” Lia said wistfully.

Dagny’s gaze went soft. “Before him, I didn’t know my heart could get so full, didn’t know an organ could grow even more than this belly. Maybe youand Arctos can find something like that soon.”

“I’ll settle for friendship. He’s not interested in me that way.” With a smile, Lia said, “I think I’m a bit scrawny for his taste.”And he’s way too big for mine.The idea of bedding him made her cross her legs, even before he brutally shoved his way into the fray.

“I think he’s conflicted. You don’t know his history, do you? Arctos probably told you nothing.”

“History?”

Dagny glanced over at the fight, as if judging how much time for privacy she and Lia would have. But then her attention got lost on her male as the fight burgeoned like a storm—tables splintering, pitchers flying, men roaring.

Arctos and Torben didn’t bother drawing steel. They moved through like bears on a hunt, silent but unstoppable.

Arctos caught a lunging drunk by the collar and swung him into Torben, who slammed the male down so hard dust puffed from the rushes. Must have been a practiced move; it seemed to amuse them both.

Maybe they could recover from their own fight by battling others?

When a brute charged Arctos with a broken bottle, Lia tensed to intervene, but Dagny stayed her. “They’re bonding.”

Torben hooked the attacker’s leg, flipping him into Arctos’s awaiting fist. The Berserker folded with a sound like cracking ice. Few remained to challenge them.

“History?” Lia prompted again.

“Yes.” Dagny lowered her voice. “There’s no easy way to say this, but…a vampire hunting party murdered their families.”

Lia froze. “What?” Her mind spun.The kind of party Co?tin enjoys leading.