Page 43 of Tree of Ash (The Runic Saga #2)

“It’s not the same thing, Lov; don’t do that to yourself.

” He spun her, then pulled her in closer.

“Come on, fretting only makes you a worse dancer, and we’ve got a crowd to impress.

” Darien’s fingers cupped Larissa’s chin, pulling her face away from the crowd until his face swallowed up her vision.

His thumb caressed the skin just beneath her lip. “Ignore them. Look at me.”

There were a million reasons why Larissa shouldn’t have decreased the space between them, but she couldn’t remember a single one as she moved closer to Darien.

Then she was lost, adrift in his sea-blue eyes.

The other dancers, the onlookers, even King Torsten faded away.

For all of Larissa’s jesting, Darien was an excellent lead.

With ease and poise that betrayed the hours spent practicing, Darien led her across the floor, gliding, twirling, and dipping Larissa when spurred on by the music.

Their bodies remembered the rhythm, the steps they had practiced in their youth, but Larissa’s heart beat erratically as she tried to catch her breath.

All the while, Darien smiled, his heart fully on display, etched in every fiber of his being.

It was one of the things Larissa loved about him.

Too late, Larissa saw in Darien’s eyes the way her own emotions were written so clearly on her face.

The music slowed, along with their movements.

Darien’s fingers brushed the scar at her face, pushing back the hair that had fallen free.

“My father was wrong, by the way. You’re more beautiful with the scar. ”

Larissa went warm all over. Her fingers brushed against the edges of his hair, yearning to tangle themselves within his curls. “You’re growing your hair out.”

He chuckled, but it was too low and intimate for humor. “Crown Prince obligations.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize. Is the beard a part of those obligations?” Her fingers trailed to the scruff forming on his cheeks. “It suits you.”

“You suit me.”

The music died.

“Darien—”

His lopsided grin was back. “No distractions, I know. I think I’m starting to understand.” He bowed low, kissing the knuckles of her hand and sending a tingle up Larissa’s arm. “Why don’t we check on Halla?”

He was offering her an out, a way to regain her composure, but Larissa didn’t want it. She wanted the music to continue. She wanted to spend more time in his arms. But the kingdom was watching; Torsten was watching. “Probably a good idea.”

Ignoring the way her fingers missed his company, Larissa searched for Halla, locating her standing off to the side of the ballroom with Kai.

Halla’s mouth moved without pause, her eyes round and wide as she took in every inch of the ballroom.

Beside her, Kai looked around at whatever Halla pointed out, his eyes hidden at times by dark hair that fell over his face.

Larissa had told Anara she would try harder where Kai was concerned.

What better a time to start than the present?

Halla, seeing her sister approaching from across the room, waved Larissa down. “Lara, you have to try this!”

Larissa lifted the pink beverage from her hand, leaning in low to whisper, “Remember, it’s Lovisa in public, Halla.”

“Oops, right.”

Darien eyed the drink in Larissa’s hand. “What’ve you got there, kiddo?”

“I don’t know, but it’s so good!”

Hesitantly, Larissa sipped, then forced herself to swallow, grateful she hadn’t gulped it down. The best she could say for it was that it tasted pink. “Your sweet tooth is really disgusting, you know that?”

“Give it back, then,” she said, snatching the drink away. “Kai thinks it’s good, don’t you?”

Kai shrugged, not meeting their eyes. “Sure.”

Larissa laughed as Halla shoved Kai’s arm. “Some friend you are! You’re supposed to take my side.”

“Princess Lovisa,” a deep voice said.

Larissa repressed the urge to sigh at the interruption. She had known that the moment she stopped moving, there would be more faces that wanted her attention. Larissa replastered her polite smile and turned to the voice.

The sight of the white-robed man halted the words on Larissa’s tongue.

But it was more than just the oddity of the runes that snaked up his neck; it was the way Halla’s body had gone rigid with tension.

Even Kai mirrored her posture. As if in response, Darien moved in front of them, blocking them from the man’s sight.

But he had already noticed Halla, and a slow smile crept up his face. “Hello again. It appears I was right about the gods having more in store for you.”

Larissa’s hand went to her waist before remembering she’d left her gun in her room. “Who are you and how do you know my sister?”

“I am Brother Gorthr, your Majesty. I last saw—your sister, did you say?—on the steps of the city temple.”

A slight nod from Halla confirmed his words. “He’s the one who bought me from Fenris.”

Hot galdr scalded Larissa’s veins. Her hands burned and glowed. “You treated my sister like cattle.”

“Careful,” Darien whispered as several of the nearby crowd turned at Larissa’s raised voice.

“Ah, Brother Gorthr,” Torsten called, joining their group. At the sight of Darien and Larissa’s defensive stances, he raised his eyebrows. “Is something wrong?”

Brother Gorthr inclined his head to the king. “I was just introducing myself to our long-lost Princess, but I’m afraid I may have made a bad first impression.”

“I thought all slavers had been imprisoned,” Larissa spat out, careful to conceal the shaking in her hands. “He bought and sold Halla. What is he doing here?”

Brother Gorthr clucked his tongue. “I never sold her. She was given as a gift—”

“A person can’t be given as anything,” Larissa snapped.

Torsten’s face darkened. “Brother Gorthr is an upstanding member of upper society and a pillar in the religious community. He is no more a slaver than Halvor. If we arrested every person who’d ever bought or transferred a slave within the city, we’d have no one left.

Besides, Brother Gorthr has offered to house all the children of convicted war criminals in the temple so that they do not have to remain imprisoned any longer than necessary.

I thought at least that would please you. ”

Larissa glanced at Darien, but his look only confirmed her own unease. Even so, there was little else she could do as Torsten’s frown deepened into a scowl. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” she bit out, “for thinking of the children.”

“They are most safe in my care. Some were most eager to come,” Brother Gorthr added, looking at Halla, “like your friend Saessae.”

“Is she alright?” Halla blurted out, though remaining behind Larissa.

“Shaken up by the changes in her life, of course, but she is just fine. She will adjust and come to realize just what a blessing it is from the gods to have our Princess returned to us.”

Larissa ignored the praise. A loud gong rang out through the hall.

“Ah, it is time.” King Torsten’s voice boomed over the noise of the crowd. “The coronation will now commence in the Hall of Konungr .”

At his words, the crowd spilled toward the opened doors, pouring out of the ballroom. Halvor approached the king’s side, drawing him into a conversation. In the commotion, Brother Gorthr leaned toward Larissa. “Your Highness, you must not keep the Norn waiting any longer.”

Larissa stepped away as though his words had burned, but Brother Gorthr was already gone, carried away in the tide of the crowd. Darien leaned toward her. “What did he say?”

Torsten patted Halvor on the shoulder, turning once more to Larissa. “Let us move on to the Hall.”

Larissa shot Darien an apologetic look. She would explain later. Larissa couldn’t worry about Brother Gorthr or the Norn right then. As the gong rang out again, it summoned her. Her people were waiting for their Queen.