Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

T hankfully, Isle’s sea crew returned just before the feast started. Viktor had already accepted and counted the gold from Asmund–it was all there–and we planned to set sail as soon as our stomachs were full.

“Will we be able to make up the one day we were set behind here?” I turned to ask Viktor, smiling warmly as he topped up my glass with some more ale.

“We should if there aren’t any other stops like this one.” He reached for a second helping of the giant goat specially slaughtered for this evening’s feast. “We always overestimate the length of the trip by a little bit as things like this happen more often than you think they would. Sometimes, it’s not enough, and we still return late.”

“If that’s the case, you should start overestimating a little more,” I told him. “If I was still back at Jorvik and waiting three months for you to come home, and you didn’t turn up on the estimated day, I would be worried sick.”

“You never have to worry about me, my siren,” Viktor murmured. He threw an arm over my shoulder, pulled me into his side and bowed his head to press his lips to my forehead. “I never want you to have to worry about me. I only want you to have happy thoughts when you think of me, so I’ll take your advice the next time we set sail for a long mission. I’m sure everyone’s families would appreciate it.”

“I’ll always worry about you, Viktor. That’s part of the job description as your wife,” I told him, playfully nudging his shoulder with mine in hopes of lightening the mood.

“Well, then. If you must,” he chuckled, pressing another kiss to my temple. “How was your day? I feel like I haven’t seen you all day today.”

“It was good,” I lied smoothly, a little embarrassed to tell him everything the women of Isle had told me today. It wasn’t often that I kept things from Viktor, mostly because I felt comfortable enough to tell him everything and anything, though I couldn’t deny that the notion of him falling onto me like an animal in heat for sex made me more than a little nervous. But not because I was scared. The nerves weren’t bad or unwelcome, just a little… foreign .

All the women made it sound like it was a chore, boring, and something they just needed to deal with. They either tolerated it, initiated it because they wanted a child, or felt distant from their husband.

Was that how sex was supposed to be?

What was the point of going all the way then when oral was so pleasurable?

Viktor narrowed his eyes at me in suspicion. “Why do I feel like you’re hiding something from me, my siren?”

“It’s nothing important,” I denied, sipping at some water in hopes that it would cool down the warm flush that coloured my cheeks. “I just remembered some things from lunch earlier with the ladies.”

“What kind of things?”

“It’s not important,” I tried to deny, but I could tell that he wasn’t convinced. “Maybe I’ll tell you about it later, but it’s nothing to be worried about. If anything, it’s a little embarrassing.”

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about with me,” he assured me. “But as long as it’s nothing to be worried about, then you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

“Thank you,” I exhaled and turned my head to graze my lips against his cheek. Before I could ask about his day, we were interrupted by a familiar voice from behind us.

“Just the person that I was looking for!”

Glancing over my shoulder, I was surprised to find Ivana standing behind me with a large grin and a tall glass of something murky topped off with a yellow slice of lemon. She thrust the glass forward, all but forcing it into my hands.

I turned to greet her. “Will you be joining us at the feast today, Ivana?”

“No.” The Chiefess shook her head, her grin only growing bigger. “I’m not feeling well again this evening, so I’ll be heading back to my hut to rest, but I couldn’t stomach the thought of letting you leave without saying goodbye, Astrid. As a parting present, I brought you my favourite drink. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.”

I graciously returned her smile. “That’s sweet of you, but you shouldn’t have gone out of your way like that.”

“Nonsense,” Ivana laughed. “This is only one of my duties as the Chiefess of Isle. Plus, I enjoyed your company at lunch today. I wish you didn’t have to leave so soon, but perhaps you can visit with Viktor once you’re back from your mission?”

“Sure.” I nodded without any intention of following through with her request. I had spent more than enough time on Isle to know that this wasn’t my sort of place, and I didn’t wish to spend any more time here than what was necessary.

When Viktor subtly snickered beside me, I knew he saw through the whole act.

“It was great meeting you, Astrid,” Ivana grinned widely at me and pulled me in for a quick hug before she pulled away, already back on her feet. “I must go now as I’m still not feeling well, but I hope you enjoy the feast and safe sailing!”

“Thank you,” I murmured after her, but she was already too far gone to hear me.

“Well, that’s a first,” Viktor murmured, the both of us watching Ivana’s back as she walked away from us and the rest of the island people enjoying all that the feast had to offer. “I’ve never met the Chiefess of Isle before. I’ve never even seen her before now.”

“Trust me, you’re not missing out on much,” I snorted, raising the glass to my lips. Immediately, my nose scrunched from its pungent smell, but I forced myself to take a sip. Ivana had seemed really keen on it. Hopefully, it wouldn’t taste nearly half as bad as it smelt.

My nose scrunched again at its bitter initial taste, but the aftertaste wasn’t horrible. After another tentative sip, it felt like the unusual drink was growing on me. It was only when I had drunk more than half that I started to feel strange.

The world was spinning on its axis, and everything was moving around me.

“I don’t feel so good, pirate,” I whispered, somehow able to put down the glass without dropping it. “I think it might be something I ate.”

Viktor frowned. “Or drank,” he murmured, reaching for the glass, holding it up to his nose for a smell. His nose scrunched in distaste the same way mine had. “You, my siren,” Viktor laughed and took a tentative sip of the drink, wincing at the strong, bitter taste. “Are drunk.”

I turned to question him; my lips parted in shock.

“Drunk?” I echoed.

“You’re definitely drunk, my siren,” he threw his head back and laughed. “I don’t blame you. This is some pretty strong stuff.”

“I can’t be drunk. I’ve never been drunk before,” I shook my head but quickly regretted it when I felt the food and drink that I had just consumed start to come up again. I promptly pressed a hand over my mouth before I embarrassed myself in front of everyone.

“Here, drink some water.” Viktor lifted his glass to my lips. “Pace yourself,” he murmured and helped me take a few small sips at a time, trying not to make myself even more sick than I already felt.

“How can I be drunk?” I groaned as I pushed the glass away from my lips, feeling very sick. Desperate to get the world to stop spinning, I closed my eyes and leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder.

“The drink Ivana gave you was very strong. It has high levels of alcohol,” he told me, running a gentle hand through my hair as he embraced me. The touch already made me feel better, but I was still battling the feeling of throwing up.

“Why would she do that to me?” I whimpered.

“I think she was being friendly,” he murmured in a low baritone, turning his head to brush his lips against my hairline.

“If she just wanted to be friends, why do I feel so bad?” I groaned and nuzzled my face further into the crook of his neck, desperately seeking the comfort and relief that only my husband could provide.

“Because it’s your first time drinking,” he whispered against my forehead, his lips lingering there. “You’re just not used to it. The first time is always the worst. All the other times after aren’t so bad.”

“They aren’t?”

“Well, they are, but not nearly as bad as this one,” he chuckled, and the sound made me wince. Everything suddenly sounded so loud. As if the world spinning wasn’t enough already. “I’m sorry you feel terrible, my siren. But don’t worry, I’ll look after you.”

“Looks like Astrid here has had a few ales too many,” Asmund laughed, taking the seat before us. “She doesn’t look too good, but nothing that a glass of water and a good night’s sleep won’t cure. Maybe a stationary bed would be good for her. We have a few huts free if you want to spend the night.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Viktor denied, careful not to jostle me when he shook his head. “We’re already a day behind. Astrid will get some rest on the ship, and she’ll feel better in the morning. There’s no need to stick around any longer, but I appreciate the offer, Asmund.”

I was grateful that Viktor hadn’t taken Asmund up on his offer. I would have been so annoyed if we were set behind another day because of me.

In my drunken stupor, I was hardly aware of Viktor carrying me back to The Serpent, where we were set to resume the mission. When I felt the soft fur of our wolf skin blanket underneath me, I knew we were in our bedroom.

“Do you want to change out of your dress?” Viktor asked, but he didn’t wait for an answer. He was already sifting through our clothes rack.

“Yes,” I whimpered.

Viktor was gentle as he pulled me into a sitting position. If I was sober and in my right mind, I would have been a little embarrassed about my husband having to change me like this, but right now, all I felt was gratitude.

I allowed him to pull the dress over my head and slip me into one of his tunics. Once we were both changed for bed, Viktor crawled in behind me and pulled the blanket over us both.

“You don’t have to head back up to the deck?” I asked, turning over onto my side to bury my face in his chest.

“No,” he whispered, tightening his arms around me and pulling me closer. “I don’t want to be anywhere else, my siren. Wherever you are, that’s always where I want to be.”

“You’re too good to me, pirate,” I murmured sleepily into his chest. “I’ll never speak of you like how the women of Isle speak of their husbands.”

“How do they speak of their husbands?” He asked, curious.

“Like animals.”

“Animals?”

“They say that their husbands ravish them like animals, and they made fun of me for being so inexperienced. When I said you weren’t that way with me, they didn’t believe me. After that, I didn’t dare admit that we had yet to consummate our marriage.”

I felt his chest shake from under my face when he chuckled. “Do you want me to ravish you like an animal, my siren?”

“Maybe,” I murmured, conflicted.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he chuckled and kissed the crown of my head. “I think you should sleep before you say anything else you’ll probably regret in the morning.”

“Fine,” I groaned and nuzzled my face further into his chest, feeling like I could never be close enough to him. “But I still have so much to tell you.”

“I can’t wait to hear it all, but for now, sleep,” Viktor laughed. “Sleep tight and have sweet dreams. I hope for your sake that your headache isn’t too bad in the morning, but I’ll be here to look after you. Always.”