“It’s a good thing it actually didn’t, since I intend to scorch you often.”
She laughed softly as she reached for the blanket to pull over them, then wrapped herself around him to keep from losing the delicious heat that consumed her body.
He settled himself around her, stroking her arm and down along her hip to make sure she stayed warm. After a few minutes, he asked, “What were you doing at the keep?”
“I needed to speak with Greta,” she said and continued to explain. “I discovered the dead man had a knife tucked in his boot, but with how frozen he was I didn’t want to remove it yet. I returned to retrieve it later and it was gone. I asked Greta if she had seen the knife and she confirmed she had, which meant—”
“Someone else removed it,” Wolf said, annoyed at what that could mean. “I saw no point in having a guard watch over a dead man.”
“I thought the same and it worries me that whoever did remove the knife did so to hide something.”
“That someone in the tribe didn’t want anyone to know the dead man’s identity,” Wolf said, a spark of anger to his words.
“That could mean the dead man was one of Brynjar’s men and someone here in the tribe has a connection to Brynjar.”
His wife said what he didn’t want to admit.
“And might be faithful to him.”
“Which means he spies on us.” That didn’t sit well at all with Wolf. “I find it difficult to believe anyone in my tribe would betray me.”
“Are you suggesting it could be someone from the Clan Learmonth?” She gave a brief thought to it. “That doesn’t make sense. How would anyone from the clan be familiar with Brynjar?” He didn’t respond and she saw in the way he stared off that his mind had wandered. “What are you thinking?”
“Something I don’t want to think?”
“Tell me,” she urged, curious.
“What if Brother Noble is not who he seems to be?”
“I can’t believe that,” she said, dismissing it as nonsense. “He is known by many.”
“How do you explain his sudden disappearance right after it snowed?” he argued.
“He probably had an important message to deliver to the monastery.”
“And take a chance in the snow?” Wolf shook his head.
“So what are you saying? That he was to meet the dead man and discovered he was brought here and slipped in the village without being seen to steal the knife?” Raven chuckled. “Now that’s a tall tale, which will easily be settled when Iver returns.”
Her husband scowled at her.
She placed her hand on his cheek. “Please, Wolf, maybe Brother Noble isn’t who he seems, but you must promise me that if he should show himself before Iver returns you won’t take a chance to prove what you think, for if he truly is a leper…” She shook her head and closed her eyes for a moment. “I don’t want to lose you. Who would keep me warm?”
“No one but me,” he snapped, the thought of anyone touching her but him sending a fiery anger through him.
“I couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else touching me, so please promise me you won’t place yourself in such danger.” She didn’t care if she sounded as if she pleaded with him. She had to know he wouldn’t take the chance and unmask Brother Noble.
“If Brother Noble shows himself before Iver returns, won’t we have our answer?” he argued.
She pulled out of his arms and turned away from him. “You’re a stubborn fool.”
Wolf turned and wrapped himself around his wife, his leg going over hers and his arm beneath her breasts, cupping one in his hand. His lips went to nibble at her ear and she tried to move away but he held her firm.
“I won’t make you worry, wife. I will wait until Iver returns with news,” he whispered near her ear, and he felt her relax against him.
“I appreciate that,” she said and pressed back against him, relishing his warmth, the comfort of his arm so snug around her, the strength of his leg locked over hers as if he intended never to let her go, and she loved the intimacy of his hand cupping her breast. They had found a comfort with each other she had never expected and never thought she’d cherish.
“Now that your worries are appeased, tell me why Hagen and Leif did not follow you to the keep.” He felt her soft chuckle.
“Your men and my men work together to protect me. Fyn was to join them but Greta needed him and I told him I would send Ida to let them know he wouldn’t be able to join them.”
“You had Ida tell them you were in need of him, didn’t you?”
“You know me well, husband,” she said, another chuckle interrupted by a yawn.