I don’t know what happened after that. The warriors shouted, the Alpha’s couldn’t keep order. The smoke rose up and choked me until I coughed, unsteady on my feet. My eyes stung and the world turned grey. I could no longer see the tall form of Thorsteinn, his broad arms crossed over his tattooed chest. Or Vik, rubbing his beard, no sign of his usual good humor.
Never our mate. Never our mate. The echo rose up with the hellish flames, drowning everything else out, stabbing me in the chest. I gasped against the pain.
“Take her away. Hold her until sentencing,” one of the Alphas ordered. Someone grasped the rope tying my arms and pulled me off the stone. The angry voices faded as I was tugged out of the clearing. I staggered and a hand came to my side.
“Easy,” a deep voice murmured. Vik. I
