“We will stay the night and leave at dawn,” Owen said. “The snow has turned to a trickle and should stop soon. By morning, we should be safe to leave.” He walked over to her and took her hand.
She had all she could do but to pull it away.
“I will overlook this discretion and see that you do not suffer for it. I doubt that Torr will admit to Cree that he had his way with you, too fearful of what he would suffer. We will wed and put this unfortunate incident behind us.” His tone turned harsh and anger punctuated his words. “And you will be grateful and be an obedient wife.”
Fool. Fool. Fool. Dear Lord, how could she have been so blind to this man? And worse what did he truly want from her? She had to get home to her brother. Cree would keep her safe from Owen.
So would Torr.
The thought had her thinking. If she could get to Torr without being noticed and free him, they could escape together.
“Did you hear me, Wintra?” Owen yelled and grabbed her arm, squeezing it so tight she winced. “You will learn not to have your head in the clouds so much when you are my wife. You will obey my commands without question, starting now.” His eyes grew wide and he licked his lips. “Show me your breasts.”
She was stunned, though she responded fast enough. “I most certainly will not and when my brother hears ab—”
The harsh slap sent her head reeling to the side and instead of fear rushing through her, anger grabbed hold.
“You will show me more than your breasts before this night is over. I will lay claim to you and your brother will not be able to refuse us marriage, for you will be spoiled goods.”
“Though not spoiled by you, and I will make certain my brother knows that.” Wintra spat at him and blood hit his cheek.
He hit her again, letting go of her as he did. She fell to the ground, and he grabbed a handful of hair, yanking her head back. “When I return, I am going to spend the next few hours teaching you how to be an obedient wife and your first lesson will be,” —he pushed his plaid aside and stroked his enlarged member— “to take me in your mouth and learn how to pleasure me, which you will do at least twice a day from this day on or suffer the consequences.”
This time he stunned her speechless. How could he expect such a wicked thing of her? Surely, he was perverse and, if so, what other wicked things would he demand of her? She had to get to Torr.
Owen walked to the door saying, “You had better be naked and on your knees when I return or I will beat you senseless.”
Wintra stared at the closed door for a moment, and then shook her head. She had no time to think on what a monster Owen was or why she had never realized it. Another reason why being raised the last few years in the abbey had not been a wise choice.
She quickly wrapped the plaid around her midsection as Torr had suggested, then she slipped on her tunic that hung over her one shoulder, and pulled her boots on. She gathered their blankets, rolled them and tucked the roll under her arm to press tightly against her side. Then she slipped Torr’s cloak on and placed hers on top of his before scooping up the broken leg chair that waited to be added to the fire and held it firmly in her hand, making certain her cloak concealed it.
She opened the door, expecting it to be guarded by one of the warriors. “I need a moment in the woods.” The warrior did not refuse her; she had not thought he would, though it was a chance she had taken. She had concluded by Owen’s actions, defender and protector of her honor in front of the warriors, that they were not aware of his evil nature. And she couldn’t be sure if they would believe her if she made them aware of his intentions. So her only reasonable choice was to get to Torr.
“Don’t you worry,” the guard said as she trailed behind him into the woods, “that animal will get what he deserves.”
Did they plan on hurting Torr? Did Owen plan on contacting her brother at all? And what had he told these warriors? She suddenly worried not only for her safety, but Torr’s as well. She had misjudged Owen badly. And she not only suffered for her foolishness, but others were suffering as well. No more. She would rectify her folly and be more select when it came to trusting men.
“A moment of privacy, please?” she asked when the guard had stopped in a secluded area.