Page 361 of Arousing Family

"Then," he said calmly, "we will only stop briefly at home to—to make plans. To set my affairs in order, so that we can leave together."

Kaer looked doubtful, but the tension drained from his limbs. "Where would we go?"

"Wherever you like," Eirik told him blithely. "We can discuss it while we walk."

"What will you tell your family?"

"We'll figure that out on the walk, too." He tossed the cloak open, exposing their bodies to the light snow. Kaer shivered. "Go on," Eirik directed. "Into the pool."

Kaer crept into the hot water without another protest. Eirik hurriedly folded his cloak and piled it and the rest of their clothes against the low rock wall, to shield them from the worst of the snow. Then he slipped into the pool and gave his body a good quick scouring.

Finally, he drew Kaer onto his lap. Snow had collected on his ebony hair like a crown, matching his eyes in sparkling radiance. Around them, the snowflakes fell in silence.

"Are you all right?" Eirik asked quietly. He suddenly dreaded the answer, but his concern for Kaer was too strong to put off the question. He didn't just mean soreness. In the last day, the boy had very nearly been murdered and frozen to death. He had awakened from that nightmare to find himself with a stranger, who had first undressed him and then—pleasured him? Brutally violated him? Unease blossomed in Eirik's gut, and guilt swelled his throat closed.

Kaer slanted a shy smile up at him. "All the important parts still seem to work." His cheeks pinkened delightfully.

Eirik snorted as relief washed through him. "Glad I could test them out for you," he muttered, and pushed the boy up against the pool wall, leaning in to kiss him hard on the mouth, ignoring the icy pinpricks scattering across his exposed back. Kaer returned the kiss earnestly, swirling his tongue around Eirik's and scraping clawed fingers through his hair.

That was how Alfdis found them.

"Eirik?" Her clear, shrill exclamation cut through the moment. "Are you—is that a man?"

Eirik jerked his head up to find his little sister standing a few spans from the edge of the pool, cloaked and hooded, disbelief making rings of her eyes and mouth.

He gaped back at her over Kaer's head, until the impudent girl erupted into gales of laughter.

Blood rushed to his cheeks. "Don't stare," he growled at her, fighting a foolish grin. "I'm glad to see Halkell kept his word, and you are okay."

Alfdis grinned back at him. "Oh, I'm okay. Not nearly as good as you, from the sight of it." She came closer. When she saw whom he had bee

n kissing, her smile faded.

"Eirik," she said in a strangled voice. "Why do you have the Prince?"

Eirik started as her words sank in. He gawked wordlessly at her, then swallowed and pulled away to stare at Kaer.

Kaer gazed back at him, his features still and guarded.

"What," Eirik finally broke the silence, "did you say your real name was?"

Still, no trace of an expression touched the young man's face. "Kaer is short for Egilikaer, my mother's name." Kaer's tone was dispassionate. He paused, then recited faintly, "my full name is Prince Iorund Aesbiornsson and Egilikaersson of the Styrsson Line, Champion of Vatnajokull and—and Heir to the Hidden Throne."

"I did not think," Alfdis breathed, "someone could look so much like a painting."

"And who are you?" Kaer asked, his voice chilly and distant.

Alfdis drew herself up. "I am Alfdis Halkellsdottir and Sigridursdottir, half hidden and loyal to the Vebjornsson Line." Her slender face trembled with outrage as she sank to her knees in the snow. "Your Highness," she spat, "unhand my brother."

"That's enough, Alfdis," Eirik warned. He staked his territory without a second thought. "The prince is mine."

Alfdis drew back in surprise. Eirik had never cowed her the way he could cow his men, but she seemed to hear something different in his tone this time. Her brow drew together. "Eirik," she said, her voice suddenly much smaller, "I don't understand."

Eirik's heart flipped to see her confused and vulnerable, still kneeling on the ground before them. He was far more concerned, though, about Kaer's icy lack of emotion since Alfdis had named him prince. He turned to the boy, willing him to feel the strength of his support and affection.

"Rise, Halkellsdottir," Kaer said softly. He glanced sideways at Eirik, but addressed Alfdis. "I mean your brother no harm."

Alfdis scrambled to her feet and looked down at him uncertainly. "Where have you been?" she whispered finally. "They killed your sister."