A loud giggle escaped my lips as my new wedding gift in my lap purred and rubbed her head against my jaw. My fingers danced along her long dark brown fur that was soft and felt like silk against my skin. Her long tail swished around my face, making me sputter with the hair in my mouth. Her little tongue rasped against my skin, making me laugh aloud at the feeling.

My exclaims of humor and love caught the attention of the other people within the food hall as I played with my new present from Aderick. I could see out of the corner of my eye the odd looks and smiles I was receiving, yet I could not find anything within me to care. I was in my own little world with my kitten, one that I did not mind as Aderick was busy in a meeting with Kare and the other men.

Ingrid's hand broke through my vision as she petted my cat, my little elskede, in which I smiled at her. She cooed and talked to the kitten as we ate our midday meal.

I had been awakened by Aderick in the wee hours of the morning to recapitulate our act of love numerous times, enough that I had completely fallen into a deep sleep after we had finished together. I pursed my lips together as I remembered last night. It was beyond my expectations, the pleasure that I felt with Aderick's touch was nearly indescribable.

To say it was highly possible that I could be with child soon was true, though I did not wish to get my hopes up. It could take time or numerous times just to become pregnant. I know Aderick was excited and beyond hopeful, whispering phrases of our children in our post-consummation glow, describing the features that they would have and how much he would love them.

My stomach grew warm just remembering his words that struck a chord deep within me, he was rather sweet and charming. And quite the seducer.

I jumped in my seat as Kare suddenly appeared and slammed his hand down on the table. My poor baby hissed at him and leaped off my lap to hide someplace else.

I frowned as I took in Kare's angered features and flexing hands from across the table. Glancing around, I noticed that everyone had either froze or quietly left.

"Kare, what is wrong?" I asked.

He let out a deeply agitated breath and clenched his jaw before quietly saying, "Why did you not tell me that Marit the thrall we are searching for was Aderick's whore for the past few summers?"

His jaw ticked and his crossed hands and tapping foot made me instantly tense. I winced at his outraged expression. I may have skipped over that quite important fact as I explained what happened yesterday as he appeared suddenly at the wedding. I knew if I had the wedding would not have continued.

I thought I had passed this Marit nonsense, but it was obvious that this would haunt Aderick and I until we took our last breath. I simply wanted to move on and I knew I would eventually forgive Aderick for his lie and past transgressions, but I would never forget. The look in Marit's green eyes was one that made me sick to my stomach and it was imprinted on my mind for years to come. Honestly, I wished to never see her face again.

"She was," I admitted, "though it stopped long before Aderick came to our home. She actually confronted me about their past and Aderick put her in her place. But soon after that she disappeared without anyone noticing. We are not sure where she is," Not that I cared, I thought bitterly to myself, the words on the tip of my tongue.

"Does it matter? She is a slave! Nothing to you nor our family! She is as good as dead!" He boomed, his face red and his neck bulging with veins. "I am going to kill that man when I see him," He cursed darkly as he turned away to pace.

"You do not think I know that?" I asked sharply as I stood, the chair scraping noisily on the floor. My breathing quickened with my rising anger and I forced my hands to clutch the sides of my gown as I faced my brother.

I rounded the table to stand in front of my already seething brother. I was not that far behind, to be honest.

"This woman, this thrall in my new home, threatened me and threw her past with Aderick in my face. I was humiliated, angry, and beyond hurt and she relished in it, Kare. I know that Aderick lied to me, and yet I still forgave him. You and I both understand how it works, it does not affect the relationship between man and wife. But that was not how we were raised. I honestly do not care if she ever steps foot on our land. But I became the stronger woman and let it go, knowing that Aderick would deal with it again if need be. Because he knew deep down as well as I do, I would be long gone if something happened like that occurred within our marriage."

I let out a breath, relaxing my stance and lean against the table, my hand rubbing my aching brow.

"I do not care what you do to Aderick...honestly, Kare? He may deserve a punch or two," I grinned slyly.

Kare relaxed slightly but I could see the anger pulsing under his skin. He rolled his eyes upward as he muttered, "Ja, I know lille søster, you were the kindest one out of all of us...always the forgiver yet the jester. I knew you had a violent side like the rest of us."

I gave a one shouldered shrug, not caring that we both suddenly grinned at one another with knowing looks in our eyes.

"Britta? Britta! Where are you, my little wildcat?" I heard Aderick's loud voice echo from the corridors.

Raising my brow at Kare, I turned away to find my kitten who was somewhere in the hall. Poor baby was more than likely scared of the fighting. Crouching down to peer underneath the tables, I spotted a little ball of fur on a bench. I also watched a pair of breech clad thighs walk into the hall that looked awfully familiar.

"Kare! Have you seen Britta anywhere?" I heard Aderick ask my sibling, approaching him with long steps. I held my breath in anticipation. This could turn bad quickly.

I more than likely looked foolish peering through the tables and benches to watch my husband and brother talk, more so avoiding my husband like a young child. A loud meow and purr near my ear let me know that my dear cat found me and wanted attention.

I quickly shushed her by petting her before watching the interaction in front of me. Kare's loud voice reached my ears as I heard, "We are trying to find your hore, the same one that insulted your wife. Are you daft, man? I did not volunteer for saving a wretch that deserves what she gets."

Aderick hissed a response back, but I was too far away to hear exactly what was said. I mentally groaned in annoyance as I crept closer to the men.

Just as I blinked, Kare reared back and swung at Aderick's face. A loud crack echoed throughout the hall, making the entire room go silent as they waited for their Jarl to retaliate. Aderick stumbled back from the blow, clenching his jaw and pressing a hand to prevent swelling. But he remained where he was, refusing to give into the temptation for a fight.

Pride swelled within me as my husband stood his ground with composure. He understood that Kare was family, my only living family, and I could see the struggle within him to attack or remain as he was.

"That is for my sister, you ass. You are lucky that she is forgiving and kind, any other woman would have left you without another glance," Kare fumed.

Aderick moved his jaw side to side as he returned the harsh glare from my brother. "That is your one that you get, Haraldsson. Anymore and I will swing back. I do deserve that and more, but you do not get the honors of doing so."

Slowly, I rose from my spot as Kare grinned wide with glee and wicked anticipation. His head snapped to where I stood watching them. My husband followed his attention with his eyes and he straightened his posture as he tried to act like he did not just get punched.

I visibly rolled my eyes and chuckled at him. That man...

"Britta, did you hear that? I do believe Aderick here is giving you a chance."

"Why, Kare, I certainly did," I commented, a wide smile on my face as I walked towards my husband.

I smirked as I strode towards the men, confidence in my stride and a smirk on my face. Aderick's features turned nervous and began to squirm as I neared them.

This was going to be entertaining...

Sighing as I stood up from the bed, I pulled my breeches from the floor up to my hips and tightened the strings. I grunted as I shoved my softening shaft back within its confines, not caring about the juices and blood on my member.

The woman below me on the bed turned away with a sob, her dark hair splayed out on my bed, curling into a whimpering naked ball. But her beauty did not diminish from the bruises and cuts delivered by my own hands.

I thought they made her look more beautiful...a temptress that held the darkness of my soul on her pale skin.

But she was not my dronning, the one I wanted in my bed, to hold my marks of possession on her lovely smooth skin.

I tsked at her shaking form. "Just tell me what I want, Marit min søte, and this can end as quickly as it started. I can grant you what you want most."

She began mumbling pleads of letting her go and other incoherent nonsense that I refused to listen to anymore.

I pressed my body down against hers, and I relished in the shudder of her frame. Pulling a piece of hair from her ear, I whispered words that made her freeze like ice.

"The man you love."

.

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