THE INEVITABLE FIGHT

Exactly what do you wish to achieve? he asked Alpha Orion. You want proof she can’t fight? Here—” He swung at me.

I fell back with a cry, tripping on a root and falling on my arse, dropping my weapon. There’s your proof. Send her back to her mate and the fish.

That is not the proof I seek, Alpha Orion responded, and my stomach flipped with the worry that this would cost me far more than pride.

I got to my feet to discover that the other warriors had my brother by the arms, holding him back. Carspey sniggered from beyond.

To first blood, then? Tristan demanded. There was rage in his voice, the flames of his axe blazing with intensity.

He didn’t want this fight, but it didn’t mean he wouldn’t do it to prove his loyalty.

To do otherwise risked terrible consequences, which I doubted he would be ready to incur for a lady he didn’t know. No.

Alpha Orion dismounted and transferred the reins of his horse to another warrior before crossing his arms.

To the death. My stomach sank, and the world around me suddenly became too light. To the death? This is madness,” Tristan hissed.

“You’d have me kill this woman? Why? Because that waste of flesh, Alpha Orion gestured at Carspey wants a new wife? Carspey is a child of Njord.

He is a man of importance, and he’s shown his loyalty. I was no longer convinced that this was about me.

Or if it was about Tristan. Or maybe it was about something else entirely. The only thing I knew for certain was that dread strangled me, refusing to give me a voice. And I haven’t?

Tristan lifted his blazing axe, and Alpha Orion had the wits to take a hesitant step backward. I’ve done everything you ever asked of me.

Then there is one more thing? Alpha Orion tilted his head. You will do this, or you will give back your armband and go into exile, no longer my son in name or in spirit.

And lest you think your sacrifice will spare the woman, know that it will not.

I’ll only have someone else fight in your stead.” The muscles in Tristan’s jaw came out in striking relief and his emerald eyes were pinched with rage, yet he offered a tight nod.

Fine.

Andronika! my brother yelled.

Run!

I couldn’t unfreeze from where I stood. I couldn’t conceive of what I might accomplish to withdraw both me and Declan from this circumstance with our lives.

The only path I saw was to fight. And to win. What if I kill him? I half expected Alpha Orion to chuckle, but he merely lifted one shoulder.

If you kill Tristan, Andronika, I’ll pull that armband from his corpse and put it on you. You may have his position in my ship when we sail on summer raids, and his portion of the wealth that comes with it.

I lifted my chin, hating that there was part of me that sensed the appeal of such a prize. And a divorce from Carspey.”

That pulled a chuckle from Alpha Orion’s lips, and he glanced at Carspey. “Do you agree to the end of this marriage?” My mate sneered.

Gladly.The prospects of me overcoming a legendary warrior such as Tristan were small. It was made even slimmer yet by him being gifted by Thor.

However conflicts were unexpected, and I was not without talent. Fine. Alpha Orion nodded, then looked to the gorgeous woman looking from her horse.

We will have a song of this, Philomela. One way or another.” “As you say, my lord, " the woman said, curiosity building in her eyes as she met my stare.

Whatever was going on here, she knew no more than I did. Rolling my shoulders to relax the tension in them, I murmured to one of the still-mounted warriors, “Might I have used your shield?”

He shrugged, then reached to unhook it from his saddle.

This will not save you, he continued. “But anyone willing to fight Tristan has earned their place in the Underworld.”

His comments reinforced my power as I took the shield, grasping the handle behind the thick steel boss, but I showed none of my confidence as I circled Tristan.

The heat from his axe gathered moisture on my brow, yet he looked unharmed by it.

Must be undamaged by it, because he held naked fire with his bare hand. “Sorry for this, Andronika,” he murmured. May Odin himself greet you with a full cup. I’m sure he will.

I smiled softly. Because you’ll warn him to be ready for me when you arrive. Which will be sooner than you think.”

A grin split his face, and for a heartbeat, I once again saw the man who’d flirted with me on the beach. If I somehow managed to murder him, I would not like it, but it didn’t mean I’d delay with a killing blow.

Tristan glanced over his shoulder at Carspey . “You’re a fool too, I struck. My sword sliced at his midsection, but some sixth sense must have warned him because Tristan wrenched away at the last second, the tip of my blade snagging just the fabric of his shirt.

Pacing in a circle, he eyed me. “This wasn’t how I thought it would go.”

Fate cares little for your opinion on how things should go.

Blood roared in my veins, my eyes leaping to the burning axe, though I knew it wasn’t what I should be looking for.

Knew it was the eyes and the body, not the weapon, that led. All that is and all that will be is already woven by the gods.”

I cut at him again, our weapons colliding and his strength sending me stumbling.

“If you are going to proselytize, best to be correct about it.”

He deflected another swipe of my blade but did not launch any strike of his own.

My fate is my own to weave.

Because he had god’s blood in his veins. I knew that. Knew it well, because Carspey often bragged about that power despite it being impossible to prove.

Then it will be a fate decided by your father, for it seems you do what he tells you to.

Anger erupted in Tristan’s glare and I attacked again, blade striking hard at his ribs. He danced out of the way, far faster than I’d have thought for a man of his stature.

He gave flames flared over my blade, and I pulled it away, preventing another blow of his axe with my shield.

The blade buried in the wood below the boss and I dug in my heels as he ripped it free, the effort nearly wrenching the shield from my hand.

But worse, the scent of burned wood flooded my nose, smoke billowing where the shield had ignited.

Yet I didn’t dare drop it. Fear rushed through me, my body wet with sweat and everything seemed too bright. I needed to attack now before a fire forced me to drop my protection.

Before my strength failed me.Show your worth, Tristan, Alpha Orion hissed. Show her what it means to fight!”

My breath came in fast pants as I swung again and again, knowing that my only chance was to win. To kill him, as much as I didn’t want to.

Why are you doing this? I asked Alpha Orion between gasps. What do you have to gain from my death? I gain nothing from your death,” he said. So fight! None of this made sense.

Tristan alone appeared to agree. There’s no sport to this contest. It’s nothing more than this weasel-cocked fishmonger wanting bigger guys to punish his mate for his shortcomings beneath the furs.”

“I plowed her nightly,Carspey yelled. “It’s her fault!” “Perhaps you plowed the wrong field! Tristan laughed and moved out of the way of my swing, slamming his axe against my shield as though batting a fly.

My indignation burned bright, less for the crass inference and more for the fact he wasn’t even giving me the honor of trying. Lemon juice made quick work of any seed his prick had to sow.”

Probably not wise to give on my secret.gods, Carspey,” he laughed. The world is truly better off without your progeny if you don’t question why your woman tastes of lemons.”

Tastes? I froze, staring at Tristan, who gave me a gentle smile.“Seems he was most definitely doing it wrong.Tristan, shut up!”

Alpha Orion paced in a circle around us.Kill her now or I’m going to cut out your tongue to silence you.