She lied, that was obvious, but why? What didn’t she trust telling him?
Trust.
That stood between them, divided them, and he knew what he had to do to change that. But did he dare take a chance? Or did it matter? She was his wife and Brother Noble was right. If she did carry another man’s child, the bairn would need a father.
“Sir,” Gorm called out as he hurried toward Wolf. “A man stalks the area. The sentinels spotted him and Iver found his tracks and says he hides them well.”
“Gather the men, we search,” Wolf ordered and turned to his wife as Gorm rushed off. “You are to remain in the longhouse.”
She said nothing, her intent blue eyes focused on him.
“I mean it, wife. You will seek the safety of the longhouse while I see to this,” Wolf commanded.
“You know of this because I sent Iver to see if he could find anything,” she argued. “From what I’ve learned of Brynjar, he leaves a mission to more than one man.”
“The reason I spread sentinels out wider.”
“We both had the same thought,” Raven said. “Brynjar didn’t rely on Sten’s group to carry out the mission. He sent someone to follow and make sure of it.”
“And there may be others that follow, Brynjar is not one to accept defeat.” Wolf gave a nod to the longhouse. “Now go and wait for me where you will be safe.”
“I will not sit idly by while you hunt the man intent on seeing me dead,” she retaliated. “My men and I—”
“Your men are welcome to join me. You will remain here,” Wolf said, the strength of his voice sounding like a decree.
Raven went to argue, having no intentions of being left behind, but her husband grabbed hold of her arm and yanked her against him, his brow coming to rest on hers.
“There is much to be settled between us, wife, and I will not have you taken from me before I see that done.”
His warm breath fanned her face like a gentle kiss and she closed her eyes for a moment, lingering in its gentle caress. And while she should have been surprised when his lips touched hers, she wasn’t. She enjoyed his kisses as much as she didn’t want to admit it. There was something about his kiss, a closeness of sorts she had never experienced. She didn’t quite understand it, since when her men had talked about their experiences with women they had never mentioned it. So, it had left her puzzled.
When he brought the kiss to a gentle end, a sudden tug to her heart had her asking, “What of you? I don’t wish to lose you.” Her remark was strange to her own ears and she thought to clarify it, but found no words that could explain it.
“I’m the Beast. I need no one to protect me,” he whispered.
His mouth had remained close to hers and the faint whisper of his words once again caressed her lips. “We all need someone.”
Her words hit him hard, thinking she referred to the man she loved and he shoved her away. “You will obey me on this and stay here.”
His sudden anger startled her and sparked her own ire. “Until you are truly my husband, you have no say in what I do.” She went to turn when she spotted a dark figure in the snow, slinking past one of the cottages. Her eyes went wide and she took off after him.
Wolf didn’t hesitate, he followed.
The heavily falling snow made it difficult to see, but Raven had braved such weather before so it didn’t frighten her. She was no fool and it wasn’t long after that she realized the man she followed was leading her away from the village. That could prove fatal in this snowstorm, especially with the cat and mouse game he was playing with her. She had to consider he was leading her into a trap, not that she held much credence with that. Her thought was that Sten’s group had one man in it who reported back to another of Brynjar’s men who had probably waited along the way. When the man failed to meet, the warrior came to find out why and if he failed to report to the next man, then another warrior would follow after him. Brynjar had no intentions of giving up.
Why though?
Was this man here to see her dead? Or was this another matter entirely? Was he here to get the woman whose parents refused Brynjar’s offer of marriage? Her questions needed answers, which meant the man had to be taken alive. Not an easy task if he was there to kill her, but she was certain her husband hadn’t hesitated in following her. And no doubt Gorm would dispatch warriors as well.
It was time she took command of the situation. She waited until she was sure he caught a good glimpse of her then she turned away from him and headed back to the village, not the least worried he wouldn’t follow.