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Before Herrick could open his mouth to snarl at him or punch his brother in the mouth, Gunnar quickly intervened.

“Hakon, it seems you have a story to tell about your night. How is Eydis doing now that she has settled in her rooms?”

Hakon, having just noticed their presence, was startled for a moment but quickly recovered.

“Uh, she is well,” he stuttered.

Gunnar gave him a cheeky smile before thumping him on the back.

“What are you both doing here?” Hakon asked after chugging down cold coffee right from the spout of the carafe.

“I came to warn you that Mother is shifting into full planning mode for your Betrothal Ball. I don’t know what you’re going to do with Eydis; our parents won't allow you to be with her,” Herrick grumbled and sat in his chair again.

Hakon choked on the coffee that he had been guzzling.

“I woke up late and came to eat your food,” Gunnar said happily, ignoring the two brothers and their woes.

“When is it?” Hakon asked, ignoring Gunnar.

“Three days from now,” Herrick said.

“Gods, she really isn't going to let this rest,” Hakon huffed, ruffling his caramel hair some more.

“You have your duty, Hakon. We all do.”

Gunnar snorted. “That’s rich coming from the one falling for the Heir of Flame.”

Herrick could only stare at his friend. Then, rage flared in Herrick. Not thinking through any of his actions that morning, Herrick lunged for Gunnar and knocked him off the armrest he had been sitting on.

They rolled a few times before they both began exchanging blows to the stomach and sides. Gunnar landed a heavy hit on Herrick’s kidney, causing him to blow out his breath with pain, but not before he could kick Gunnar in the side. Hakon jumped to pull them apart when they had both stood and wrapped his broad arms around Herrick’s chest. Herrick broke off from his friends and paced the room a few times.

“What have I missed?” Hakon asked Gunnar, clearly confused at the violent reaction from Herrick to the small comment.

“There is a treaty rule that forbids two royals from separate kingdoms from being together. Herrick is taking the news poorly this morning,” Gunnar said as he spat blood into an empty cup.

“Shut up, Gunnar,” Herrick growled, shaking his brother off and pacing once more.

Hakon watched the two of them stare each other down before he interjected.

“Let’s go for a walk through the city, Herrick. We could both use time away from the palace today,” Hakon said as he removed his shirt to go change into fresh clothing.

“I’ll look out for the girls today; make sure they don’t get into any trouble around the palace,” Gunnar said as he headed for the door, not looking backward over his shoulder at his friends.

“He definitely means Maude,” Hakon snorted.

Herrick couldn’t find it in himself to laugh that morning. He had been trying to force his feelings about the situation down so far thatthey had been breaking through as physical aggression rather thangalder. Hakon was right to pull him from polite company today.

Herrick changed into some of his brother's clothing, the information he had gotten about the treaty and his brother's upcoming forced nuptials cycling through his thoughts without reprieve. Herrick knew if he stayed in the palace today, he would seek out Maude, and he wasn’t sure if he was ready for that interaction yet. The news from his mother that barred him from forming any sort of relationship with Maude would be too present in his mind.

As they both walked to the door, Hakon threw an arm around his shoulders and said, “Let’s go get drunk.”

13

Maude tasted the iron in her blood as she spat on the sand of the training yard housed in the Palace of Ocean and Clay. Liv had offered to train with her that morning and was not holding back. Maude appreciated the excuse to work off some of her energy that had lingered from the night before after her fight with Herrick.

After the insanity that had ruled Maude’s brain when she had straddled Herrick in the hall, she had been unable to sleep. She had entered her room to find Gyda and Henneka waiting for her; the subsequent uproar that followed them taking in her appearance was extraordinary. They bustled her into the washroom to clean her up, and as soon as they scrubbed her clean again, Maude asked that she be left alone.

Thoughts of Herrick’s stiff length being pressed against her center had made her throb all night. She had been restless in her bed, her skin burning from the inside out. The windows had been open, and the scent of rain moving through the city hadn't helped ease her lust.