Jax turned with a laugh, breaking away from his conversation and noticing her for the first time. He put his hands on his hips and tilted his head to the side. “No blood, no weapon, no armor? This may be the first time you’ve disappointed me.”

She debated between punching him and kissing him the second he was in arms reach.

“You’ve been back for days, and you didn’t think to tell me you were alive?” Her voice couldn’t make up its mind either, and it alternated between cracking with rage and relief.

“I figured someone else did.” Jax shrugged. “It’s not like it makes that much of a difference.”

“Of course it does!” Her intensity startled him. Vhalla spoke over his loss for words. “You think that you dying ‘doesn’t make a difference’?”

The Easterner in her finally won out, and Vhalla wrapped her arms around his waist. The hug was awkward, but she persisted all the same. His hands fell on her shoulders, but he didn’t instantly push her away. It seemed as though he was at an utter loss for what to do when someone showed him affection.

Vhalla broke the short embrace, staring up at him. “I’m glad you’re okay, Jax. I thought I’d killed you.”

“You don’t need to worry about someone like me,” Jax replied. He glanced around, catching the eyes of the other guards staring curiously. The man thumped the top of her head with a fist in a brotherly fashion. Laughing, he spoke loud enough for everyone to hear, “Bleeding heart Easterners! You don’t need to worry so much about us tough Western stock. Right, Erion?”

Erion gave a marginally committal grunt.

Some of the men chuckled, and Vhalla let them have their laugh. The look she received from the corner of Jax’s eyes spoke volumes of his true feelings toward her concerns.

“How did you survive?” Vhalla was still trying to process that the man before her was real.

“One of Schnurr’s servants found me,” Jax explained. “I was able to cauterize most of the wounds myself, so I didn’t bleed out entirely. Unsurprisingly, they had little love for their most generous lord, and helped me get back on my feet.”

Her presence had been enough of a break from the normal routine that others were noticing. Among them was the golden prince, Raylynn at his side, with Craig and Daniel in tow.

“Vhalla!” The Eastern man nearly sprinted over to her.

If Vhalla hadn’t pushed wind at her back, the force of his embrace would’ve knocked her over. But Vhalla locked her arms around him tightly for a long moment. Daniel pulled away, beaming.

“It’s such a relief to see you all right.” He hooked an arm around her shoulders and shook her lightly. “You had me so worried!”

“Jax told me you were foolish enough to feel responsible for letting me leave alone.” Vhalla grinned, appreciating the now effortless atmosphere time had created between them.

“If it isn’t the troublemaker herself.” Baldair joined the group.

“You’re one to talk.” Without hesitation, Vhalla hugged the youngest prince tightly. Baldair squeezed her in reply. “How many hearts have you broken while I was gone?”

“Me? I never break hearts!”

Raylynn snorted.

“At least five,” Erion outed the golden prince.

“No, no, only three.”

“Only,” Vhalla teased.

“It’s not my fault if they think there’s more to it than a night! I never advertise any differently,” the prince defended himself with a laugh.

Vhalla decided it was true after a moment’s consideration. He didn’t seem to have many repeat offenses. Her eyes shifted to the blonde at Baldair’s side. Maybe he had one repeat offense.

Raylynn rolled her eyes. “The paragon of innocence.”

“I’m about to make all of you run double drills,” Baldair threatened.

“Speaking of,” Erion said as he caught Daniel and Craig’s attention, “where are they at so far?”

The men began conversing on the status of the swordsmen. Vhalla was quickly forgotten, until Baldair took a step closer to her.

“Take a walk around the grounds with me, Vhalla? I’d like to show them to you.”

She knew by his tone, by the way that the rest of the Golden Guard seemed to take a step away, that the prince showing her the grounds was a front for other intentions.

“Certainly. I’d like to see them,” Vhalla agreed with grace.

The prince offered her his elbow, which she took without hesitation.

“I remember a time when you wouldn’t be seen touching me.” He chuckled softly.

“How times have changed.” She smiled in bittersweet fondness at the unconventional start of their relationship.

“You are the only woman who ever was of such an opinion. I should’ve known then you were already practically family.”

“Jax informed me that you told the guard to protect me as if I was kin.” Vhalla glanced at the Western man, reaffirming he was actually alive.

“I heard you were to be family.” Baldair’s usually booming voice was soft and rich with sorrow.

Vhalla couldn’t stop her hand from flying to the watch at her neck, confirming his words with a single action. “How did you know?”