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She had led these killers into this kingdom. She had caused the death of who knew how many Rivers soldiers. They had entered this city to take her back to Logi. She had stayed here for days, thinking they had escaped her father’s clutches while her father had burrowed his way into Veter to take her via his spies. She had feltsafe.

She was a fool.

Herrick moved closer to her, moving one hand behind her neck and the other to the blade still sticking out of her gown. Herrick tightened his grip on her neck, forcing her to look up at him as he pulled the blade free from the leather and metal guarding her chest. Maude heard the blade hit the soft grass with a softthud.

“What is so funny,minn eldr, because I would love to be in on the joke,” Herrick purred, tone deceptively light.

She looked up and finally allowed the laughter in her chest to die. A fireball sprung to life above them, casting light onto her neck where the bruises from her fight were already beginning to show. Herrick noticedthem and released her, pushing her hair aside to inspect the discoloration with a growl that radiated deep from his chest. He looked over his shoulder at the dead assassin and viciously threw his hatchet into his back.

“I already killed him,” Maude said, voice hoarse from her fit of laughter.

He gave her a flat look.

“What happened?” she motioned toward his blood-soaked furs, the silver now stained scarlet.

“The same that happened here, I expect, only they tried to kill me instead of kidnap me,” Herrick replied, moving away from her to pace through the clearing.

Unable to stay quiet for long, though, he almost shouted, “Why did you run away?”

“What?” Maude asked, jarred from the quick change in topic.

“After we danced, why did you run?” Herrick said through his teeth, coming close to Maude again and putting his large hands on her shoulders.

Maude was startled by the quick change in topic. She recovered quickly, though, her anger within her grip again.

“Because the things you were saying were too much, Herrick!” she exploded.

“I was only honest with you, Maude,” he replied, shaking her slightly. “I was honest with you, and you didn’t want to hear it, so you ran. Like a coward.”

There was a beat of silence between them.

“Yes,” she agreed angrily. “I didn’t want to hear you talk about me like I am a good person, Herrick. I couldn’t stand it.”

She ripped herself from his grasp, but he only grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer.

“Bullshit,” he growled, eyes bright.

Maude realized the adrenaline of the fight was still burning through him. His panic over her was still controlling his words and actions. His grip was tight on her waist, but Maude didn’t fight it. She moved closer to him and brought her hands up to his face, running her thumbs over his high cheekbones.

“I’m okay, Herrick,” she whispered, unable to make her voice any louder.

He shook under her touch.

“I’m okay,” she repeated. “I’m still here.”

Her hands began to shake as she ran them over his face and into his hair. Herrick moved his blood-stained hands over her as if to reassure himself that she was still standing there with him. One hand moved to her neck again, his touch gentle as he swiped a thumb over her cheek, as well. Maude’s hands traveled over his powerful shoulders and down his arms, thick with the corded muscle of a warrior, and then back up to his jaw. Perhaps she also needed to reassure herself.

Herrick lowered his forehead to hers, their eyes closing as they breathed each other's air for a moment.

“Minn eldr,” he whispered.

The air charged between them once more, Maude feeling her fire rising in her in a flash of heat. With every breath, his soothing presence sent waves of cool water to run over her soul. As if they had gravitated toward each other, Maude’s lips inched ever closer to Herrick's mouth. Their exchanged breaths became quick and heavy with the adrenaline still coursing through their bodies, but also with the repressed desires she knew they both had. Something in the air was moving around them, weaving them together through the Norns' tapestry of the world’s fate.

“I’m not ready to let go of you,minn eldr,” Herrick said hoarsely. “I never will be.”

“They came for me, Herrick. Even all the way within your borders, they found me. Ineedto leave before anyone else gets hurt,” Maude said, her lips brushing his lightly as they spoke.

“We leave then. Both of us.”