Broken Dove (Fantasyland #4)(118)

Franka’s eyes narrowed.

“I think you mistake me,” she said.

“I think I don’t and that’s why you’re a disappointment,” I countered. “I had hoped, when you made the approach you so obviously couldn’t wait to make, that this would be much more fun. Instead, it’s been rather boring.”

This time, Norfolk coughed to hide his chuckle and Franka’s eyes turned cold.

“I’ll clarify. It’s a mistake to underestimate me,” she stated flat out.

“And it’s a mistake to threaten me,” I shot back. “For I have the arm of Ulfr and I’m not averse to calling in reinforcements.”

Franka opened her mouth to speak but Norfolk got there before her.

“I find it’s always best, Franka, when blood has been drawn, to retreat at least long enough to assess the damage.”

Her gaze snapped to him but he wasn’t finished and his voice lowered meaningfully when he did.

“And when you retreat, I urge you to grasp, however belatedly, the fact that you’ve discovered a worthy adversary at the same time realize the she-pup you thought to play with has an alpha who, when a member of his pack is threatened, will not hesitate to tear you apart with his teeth.”

She glared at him for long moments before she sent a cold look to me and turned, gliding away.

“Well done, my dear,” Norfolk said into my ear, moving me from the food tables and positioning us by a wall that was close to Apollo, but not too close.

“Thanks,” I murmured, looking Apollo’s way to see his face stone-cold, his eyes aimed where Franka’s departing back had just been, before they turned to me.

I gave him a grin, a wink and added a finger wave for good measure.

His chin jerked slightly back when I did, even as he blinked.

Then he smiled.

Slowly.

God, seriously, I’d essentially been looking at that face for over a decade and still, seeing it as Apollo, I wondered if I’d ever get used to his beauty.

He turned his attention back to the Drakkars.

I gave mine to Norfolk.

“Thank you for being so…” I tried to find a this world word since I didn’t think he’d get “cool” or “awesome” or at least not the ways I intended them. I settled on, “Lovely.”

“It is my pleasure,” he replied on a smile. “Ulfr is a friend, he is loyal to my cousins, the queen and our Winter Princess, and he is a good man.”

“He is all that,” I affirmed and he chuckled.

But he sobered before he noted, “You seem very used to the reactions to your resemblance to Ilsa.”

“Although I’ve never met her, in the time I’ve been in Lunwyn, it’s become very clear I look exactly like her so I’ve had no choice but to become used to them.”

“I must say, Lady Madeleine, that it’s not uncanny, the resemblance. It’s uncanny, the resemblance that includes the startling differences,” he remarked and I felt my head tip to the side in confusion.

“Would you mind explaining?” I asked.

“Only if this discussion doesn’t offend you,” he answered.

I shook my head so he continued.

“I could not know, I have not been around when Franka and Ilsa were conversing, but, like you, Ilsa would not countenance Franka’s rot. However, she would do that by walking away.”

I wondered briefly if that was the way I should have played it and this was brief because he went on.

“It’s more fun your way.”

I grinned at him and he returned the gesture.

“Have you met my cousin, Lunwyn’s Ice Princess, Sjofn?” he queried.

I shook my head. “No.”

“She will like you,” he told me, patting my hand in the curve of his arm. “Greatly.”

“Awe...” I started, stopped and finished more appropriately, “Well, that’s just grand.”

“Am I to set a course where Kristian cuts off his sister’s allowance?” I heard Apollo ask and I turned when I felt his hand come to rest on the small of my back.

In a sweet changing of the guards, Norfolk uncurled my hand from his elbow but gave it a squeeze before he let it go as he replied, “You may wish to give Franka some time to dress her wounds. Our Lady Madeleine proved her knives are sharper and she has greater skill in using them.”

Apollo looked down at me, his hand gliding along my back so he could curl it around my waist and pull me close. “Indeed?”

“Amateur,” I murmured, and he threw back his head and burst out laughing.

Norfolk added his chuckles.

Apollo stopped laughing and leveled his eyes at Norfolk. “I owe you a debt.”

Norfolk threw out a hand. “Not at all.” He looked to me. “It’s been a pleasure.”

Aw, that was sweet.

“You’re very kind,” I murmured.

“And you are a delight,” he replied, smiling. He turned to Apollo. “I will leave you to your charming company.”

Apollo inclined his head.

Norfolk dipped his chin to me and moved away.

After he did, Apollo moved me from the wall and started us walking slowly through the crowded space.

I took a sip of my champagne and muttered, “What now?”