Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Tension crackled in the air, and I groaned. The W word. The worst thing to call a berserker, according to the history book. When a king was previewed as less than unbreakable, other warriors bombarded him with challenges.
This king offered no outward reaction. He simply announced, “Tomorrow morning, after you have sobered up, you will present yourself to my wife and apologize for your behavior. I’ll render your punishment.” Oh, Callen’s tone. Such quiet rage raised the fine hairs on my nape. “If you fail to show, I’ll consider it a challenge for my crown, and proceed accordingly.”
Gasps sounded, mine among them. I felt as if I’d been punched in the gut. Punishment? A possible death-challenge?
Paling, the women on Jamie’s arm released him and backed away as if he’d just been doused with a toxic sludge. The prince worked his jaw before glancing at me and flashing me a cold smile. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he said before stalking off.
“The party has ended.” The very grenade he’d once professed to be, Callen escorted me to the car. “I apologize for how things ended,” he told me as soon as we were sealed inside.
“You don’t owe me an apology.” I opened my mouth to say more, but he gave a clipped shake of his head. Conversation over.
I wanted to do something, anything, but what?
As the car bumped along the road, he stared at his signet ring, but he didn’t twist it. I might not be well versed in the ways of berserkers, but I could read him. DO NOT ENGAGE. Despite the softness he’d shown me today, he had shed none of his ferocity. Right now, that ferocity was winning.
He loved Jamie. That much was obvious. A fight to the death would destroy him.
When he swung his glare to the window, his anger acted as a forcefield around him. Anything I said would probably make things worse. But shouldn’t I try? Wasn’t that the whole reason he married me? To calm his berserker rages?
With a soft tone, I said, “Tell me about the punishment Jamie is to receive.”
“He disrespected his leader and queen and thereby his entire clan. He must be whipped publicly for it. You’re required to watch.”
This type of public brutality echoed my earlier fear. “What happens if you issue a royal pardon instead? A merciful king is more desirable than a tyrant, I’d think.”
“Now you ask for mercy? For Jamie but not Roderick?”
I raised my nose in the air. “Would you have shown it if I had?”
“No. The moment I allow insolence to go unchecked, challenges will never cease coming.” He didn’t face me. “The wolves would sense weakness in the clan and attack. Thousands would die rather than one. Why do you think Roderick is in his grave?”
We reached the castle. Not waiting for my response, he exited the vehicle and strode off. All I could do was scramble out and follow.
Chapter
Twenty-Four
Berserker Trigger Warnings: Finding Zen in the War Den
From A Beginner’s Guide to Berserker Bliss
Author Unknown
Isoared inside the castle and halted. Where was Callen? He’d couldn’t have gone upstairs. Having entered the house only seconds before me, he should be climbing the stairs. But he was nowhere to be seen. Nor were the guards. Once again, I was alone.
I spun in a circle, unsure where to go or what to do until my phone dinged, signaling a text message. I checked the screen.
Mr. T: Denounce Callen during the prince’s punishment tomorrow or say goodbye to your old life forever.
Fury sparked, and I stomped my foot. Enough with the threats! The mole must be working overtime to so quickly relay what had happed.
I jabbed at my cell phone, typing:
If you want to hurt Callen, why not tell him the truth about me?
Mr. T: Are you calling my bluff, human?
Yes! No. Maybe? Obviously, waiting to confess all to Callen had been a mistake. Whatever the consequences, the conversation had become dire. I needed to share everything with him. He wouldn’t hate me. He wouldn’t rage and lose trust in his wife and allow evil into his heart. Instead, he would understand I’d done what was necessary to survive the terrible situation thrust upon me. I only regretted that I hadn’t yet found Tavish’s ally.
I cobbled together a plan. Ask Callen to (carefully) abduct and escort “Elizabeth Darcy” back to Scotland, giving Isobel no advance warning. No chance to mount up a defense. Make the switch however Callen planned to do when he’d thought the victim was merely my friend. Lock Isobel up and use her only to calm Callen’s rages. Contact my parents. Live happily ever after with the man I…loved.
I went still. I did. I loved him. He’d won me with his goodness and yes, his smolder. Only downside, I didn’t like that Isobel calmed him. I didn’t even want her near him. But what choice did we have?