Chapter Thirteen
Bryn
Bryn sat on the edge of her bed and held her head in her hands. Embarrassment coursed through her. When had she become a bedside trollop? And what would the royal family think of her after she practically crawled into their leader’s bed?
She groaned and flopped backwards on the mattress. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep, and didn’t every romance movie cause people to naturally cuddle after they doze off?
Oh my God. I cuddled a king!
She rolled over and buried her face in a pillow. She didn’t quite scream but she didn’t not scream either. For someone who had been so quick to hop on a plane because she finally had freedom, she had lost it in record time.
Despite her unexplainable physical attraction to Sven, her heart still waged a war between contempt at his takeover of her life and gratitude that he was protecting her.
And what was this sensation she got when she touched him? Not a feeling like hot or cold, but more like an electrical current.
She flopped back onto her back and flung her arms out to her sides.
What had Martin said about her healing Sven?
Her gut told her that the tingly feeling she experienced was somehow what he meant, but that did nothing to explain how or why she was able to do it.
She covered her eyes and groaned. She understood nothing.
A knock on the door broke through her misery. Without a thought, she responded without moving. “Come in.”
No one said anything after the door opened. Certain it was Lars or the doctor, Bryn kept her eyes covered. “What do you want?”
“I wanted to thank you for helping my son.”
Bryn sat straight up in a single move. Freya stood at the foot of the bed with a look of amusement on her face.
“I… oh my God. I am… sorry…. Your Highness… or Majesty… Queen…” she stammered as she stood and tried to curtsy. “I thought… I mean… I didn’t…”
Freya waved her hand. “Sit down, Bryn. I am no longer Queen anything, thank the Gods. I am not here looking for any formality.” She laughed and sat in a chair in the corner of the room. “I certainly don’t want you to be uncomfortable around me.”
“I know… I’m not… I mean… you just…” She could not force her brain to connect her words into a coherent thought. “I am so sorry.”
“You are positively glowing.”
Freya’s tone made Bryn’s mentality finally crash to earth. She glanced at her arms. Nothing looked out of place. “I’m sorry. Did you say glowing?”
“Your aura.” Freya stood and brushed Bryn’s hair back. “It’s no wonder you have such an effect on Sven. Your aura is the purest I’ve seen.”
Bryn frowned. “I’m sorry. What?” She had never been much for the metaphysical stuff.
Freya returned to her chair. “I’m a firm believer that your aura is simply a reflection of your soul mixed with your emotions.
” She let her words sink in before she continued.
“For instance, if a person is evil, but they’re having a good day, their aura may be versions of black and brown, but they’ll never have a, say, pink aura.
” She waved her hand. “I’m not going to give you a complete lesson because sometimes you can’t see a person’s aura at all.
But you… you are simply glowing with goodness. ”
Bryn had no idea what to say so she remained silent. She gave a quick smile and stood. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Like I said,” Freya responded, “I just wanted to say thank you. Something in you is very healing to my son, which is absolutely what he needs. And if I find out that evil bitch had anything to do with almost killing Sven today, I swear I’ll string her up myself.”
“Alice? Or April?” Bryn couldn’t remember the woman’s name. “His fiancee? Why would she have anything to do with what happened to him?”
“Alitta. And I don’t know if she did, but my gut says that she’s not an innocent bystander to all that’s been going on.
I tend to see myself as something of a psychic, but Sven and his father always dissuaded me from pursuing my possible gifts.
” She gave a giggle. “Embarrassing, you know, for a royal to be part witch.”
“I didn’t know that psychics were witches.” Bryn didn’t know much of anything about the subject.
“Oh, they’re not, dear. But every once in a while, we all want to be a little witch, don’t we?”
“Only if I could beat that woman with my broom.” Bryn clapped her hand over her mouth. “I did not mean to say that out loud.”
“It’s just us, my dear. Nothing leaves this bedroom.”
Another knock on the door interrupted them. Sven stood outside and seemed surprised to see his mother.
“I was just leaving.” Freya rushed away after she gave Bryn a wink.
Bryn sighed. Obviously she wasn’t going to be able to commiserate in peace. “I’m sorry, Sven. I know how inappropriate it was to fall asleep like that.”
“Bryn,” he started in a rough voice. “I need your help.”
Half an hour later, she sat across from him in her own quarters holding her cherished tumbler of coffee that had long since lost its attraction, while he explained the impossible.
“So let me get this straight.” Her voice squeaked, and she cleared her throat. “You’re saying that if you don’t go through with this ritual, you’ll lose the crown?”
Sven nodded. His jaw tightened, but his eyes never wavered from hers. “The Visionary Trust Council requires its king, or queen, to be committed. It’s a symbolic action that royals are bound to perform. If I am unable to perform my duty, they’ll strip me of my position.”
Bryn blinked. “So your solution is me?” There was so much that she didn’t understand but the fact that Alitta was gone thrilled her to no end. “You want me to pose as your mate?”
His mouth curved into a humorless smile. “You’re the only person I can ask.”
“And we have to have sex?”
He gave a quick nod. “You make it sound very feral, but yes, we would mate for the one night. That is the pinnacle of the ritual.”
“And how do they know if we actually have sex?” Her eyes widened. “They don’t… like… watch, do they?” How the hell did I get in this situation?
“No voyeurism. I promise.”
Her pulse drummed in her ears. She knew he purposely avoided an answer to her question but she let it go. Her inner libido was jumping for joy at the thought of mating with him.
How are you even thinking about doing this?
The whole thing was absurd. She and Sven had known each other for such a short time and their lives were never supposed to cross in the first place.
“What happens if…” She hesitated, not quite believing the words were coming from her mouth. “If I get pregnant?”
For the first time since the conversation started, Sven laughed. Not in a bad way, but warm and comforting like she’d cracked a layer of ice around him. “Bryn, in all the years I’ve had to perform this tradition, that has never happened. I doubt it’ll happen now.”
She shot him a sharp look. “Doubtful isn’t the same as impossible.”
“I’m not asking you for forever,” he said softly. “Just for now. Until I can keep the throne and prove I can carry the responsibility.”
“Are you disappointed that Alitta left?”
She watched him frown but it didn’t seem like disappointment. The last thing she wanted was to be a second option. Not in that manner of definition.
“Alitta was never my choice,” he explained.
“Her family is influential in their own way, so the council thought that she was the most qualified option for this time around.” He reached for her hand.
“I am not even a little bit disappointed that she will not be fulfilling her obligation. What I feel when I’m around you is something that I have never felt with her. ”
“You know your mother and grandmother were not fond of her.” Bryn hated outing their confidences, but she felt that it needed to be said.
He chuckled again. “They have made their feelings toward her crystal clear.” He squeezed her hand. “I am surprised that they told you, though. That means something that they felt comfortable enough with you to disclose that tidbit of gossip.”
“It’s not gossip if it’s true.”
“Touche,” he grinned. “I’m sure they’ll approve of this arrangement if you agree.”
She knew he wasn’t wrong. Silence stretched between them.
Bryn stared at the rim of her mug, torn between exasperation and…
And what? Excitement? Sexual anticipation?
Most of the feelings were not anything she wanted to admit.
She wouldn’t have been surprised if he had offered to pay her for her services. She felt like a professional escort.
The sad part was that she loved it.
Finally, she set the cup down with a thud.
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
Relief flashed across his face, much too quickly for her liking.
She held up her hand. “But only on one condition. After an acceptable amount of time and your crown is safe, you let me go. No questions asked. No strings attached.” She already knew it would break her heart but she wasn’t willing to let him own her.
Sven’s expression sobered, but he nodded. “Agreed. But only once I’m certain that any danger toward you has been terminated.” He bit his lip. “You should know that we’re not entirely certain that Alitta isn’t somehow connected to that danger.”
That surprised her but also made her dislike the other woman even more.
She stared at him. The man had turned her life upside down already, and here she was ready to put a new level of chaos into their relationship.
“Understood. And if she is involved, I hope we can eliminate her as soon as possible.” It sounded catty, but she didn’t really care. “When do we do this ritual thing?”
“Three days.”
Her head snapped up. “What? That soon?”
“The ritual is in three days. With everything else going on, I know the timing sucks. My assassination attempt, the fact that you were the target of an attack, and my missing brother should take precedence, but the moon cycle comes regardless of anything else that needs to be attended to.”
She nodded, at a loss of anything further to say.
“That means that we have two days to make people believe our relationship is real. To convince them it’s not just a cover. Otherwise, they’ll never accept it.”
“You left that little detail out.” Her gut told her that he had left other details out also. She let out a long breath. “What do we have to do?”
But he only smiled faintly, like he already had a plan. “Just trust me.”
Bryn discovered what that plan was the very next morning. She was sitting with Hilda when Freya and Sven swept into the room.
Sven kissed his grandmother’s cheek. “How are you today?”
“I’m fine, sweetheart,” Hilda answered. “Bryn has made certain that I took the correct medications and she’s been a dear keeping me company. Is there any word on Eva?”
He nodded. “Martin said that she is showing signs of improvement. She has a long road to recovery, but we’re no longer in too much fear that we’re going to lose her.”
Freya motioned for Bryn. “Come on, sweetheart. We need to get you dressed.”
“I am dressed.” Bryn smoothed her T-shirt and jeans. She suddenly felt a bit self-conscious compared to Freya’s immaculately tailored suit.
“I had some things sent to your room that make you more… royal. Come on. I’ll help you.”
“Where are we going?” She looked at Sven. “Are you going too?”
“Oh, I’m going,” he responded with a grin. “We’re going to a brunch.” He didn’t offer any further details. “And please don’t argue with my mother. She’s much easier to deal with if you just go along with her.”
Freya stopped at the door. “Mother, do you want to go with us?”
Hilda shook her head. “I’m comfortable here. But it’s good to see you up and about again. You were getting quite depressing to be around.”
Bryn waited for an argument to break out, but Freya simply laughed. “I agree. I was quite the downer.” She gestured to the door. “Come on. Let’s go get ready.”
Sven followed them down the hallway. “I’ll wait out here. Seems like that’s what I’m best at doing.”
Bryn gave him a sharp look before she was ushered inside. Her heart flip flopped when she caught the wink he gave her before Freya closed the door behind them.