Free The Two Kings (Afterlife Saga) by Stephanie Hudson Page A

was crying out in pain from be ing so tight. I hoped he wouldn’t sneeze while he was here or that thing would rip into shreds and he would be left with nothing. His arms looked like tree trunks and the pure muscle was covered with bulging veins. His hands looked like spades that could have crushed my head with one small action.
    “Keira , this is Ragnar . ” I was trying to hide like a child behind Draven but he pulled me to h is side. I looked up at him and a nervous smile crept its way across my face .
    “Hello, would you like to come in ? ” I asked not forgetting my manne rs, even in the face of this beast! He looked at me curiously and then looked back at Draven for his answer.
    “Ragnar will stay outside . ” At this Ragnar just nodded at his master. Draven motioned for him to move and he left to walk the perimeter of the house. I noticed there was now a huge b lack Land Rover sat in my drive way. Well I doubted Ragnar would have fitted in one of Draven’s many sports cars.
    “I won't be long . ” He kissed me long and hard as though it was to be our last. Then he spoke to Ragnar before he left.
    “Geyma austrvegr jenta og gi lifdagar ditt, lytte til andra” ( Means “ Guard the girl wi th your life, listen for others” in Part old Norse and Norwegian) He was just about to get in the car when he stopped. I was still in the door way and couldn't understand what he was saying but he shouted back to Ragnar ,
    “Oh and Ragnar , “ Ikke skirra austrvegr jenta, være hyggelig!” ( “ Do not scare the girl, be nice! ” )
    “Ja min herre” ( “ Yes my Lord ” ) He spoke for the first time and his voice matched his size. It was rough like a person j ust recovering from having their tonsils out. I watched as Draven got in the driver ’ s side and drove off at a quicker speed than I would have liked , kicking up the gravel as he went . The sky wa s clear over the house but there were darker clouds moving across the mountains that threatened the ground with rain. Ragnar gave me a nod before I went back inside to be properly alone for the first time since Monday and today was Thurs day. I went to flick on the kettle and make a hot chocolate when I noticed the answering machine blinking. I pressed a button and a very polite voice told me I had forty three messages. Forty three! Wow Libby had been worried. I didn't have the time or the will to listen to them all so I pressed the erase button.
    I made two mugs of chocolate as I thought it was only polite to make my ‘f orced upon me ’ guest a drink. I hadn't asked him but to tell the truth I was too scared to. I open ed the door to find him standing guard by the frame. I just hoped we didn't have any visitors, it’s not as if out here we got the Avon lady or anything but still , I doubt Ragnar was going to look kindly on a postman. Mayb e I would need to make a sign “Beware of the Ragnar” or “Warning Viking Demon on patrol”.
    “Hi, I ... um... I made you a drink . ” I said and he cocked his large head to one side.
    “Why?” He asked and I couldn't help but jump.
    “Because I made myself one and it is cold out here. Plus it's kind of what humans do . ” I said in a bit of a nervous whisper.
    “They'd gi ve men cups, like an offering ? ” He sounded confused. He also didn't sound like he was used to speaking in English but I understood it even with the strong European accent.
    “Guests usually get offered a drink...yes. Do you like chocolate?” I asked looking like a hobbit next to a giant. He just shrugged his shoulders and I felt the wooden floor bounce from his slight movement. I hope d he did n't go through it. I passed him the mug and it looked like a thimble in his whopping great big hands. He looked at it as though it was going to do something more.
    “It's nice....sweet . ” I said smiling at him. Like this he didn't seem so scary. Once you got used to the pot holed face and colossal size. He placed it to his lips and I said