She shook her head, refusing to dwell on it.
Survive, Bliss, survive so you can see Elysia and Annis again.
It took effort to move the board since he had planted it firmly in the earth floor and braced against the door. There were a few times she thought her effort might wake him. But he slept soundly. When she finally got the door open, she slipped out soundlessly and closed it behind her.
She realized then that her feet were bare. She shrugged and shook her head. How had she not noticed that? How had Rannick gotten her boots off without waking her? She shook her head again and hurried to the closest entrance to the woods.
She could not help but notice the clear half-moon and the stars that lit up the night sky. It was the clearest night sky she had ever seen, not a single cloud disturbed it. It seemed more dreamlike than real it was so beautiful. She lingered a few moments after finishing, the surreal sky and the chilled night far too welcoming to hurry back to the cottage until… she heard a sound.
Bliss listened. Had she heard footfalls or was a nocturnal animal at play or hunting for food. That thought got her moving as quietly as possible. When she reached the edge of the woods, she peeked past the trees to see if anyone lurked about. When she didn’t see or hear any movement, she stepped from behind the tree to hurry to the cottage.
She was snagged around the waist, hoisted off her feet, and a warm cheek was planted firmly against her cool one.
“What did I tell you about going anywhere without me?” Rannick demanded with a snarling anger.
He didn’t give her a chance to respond. With a firm arm around her waist, he carted her back to the cottage and planted her on her feet once inside.
“Take off your garments and get in bed!” he ordered.
The fiery anger in his eyes alone warned her not to argue but fear had her hesitating.
“NOW!” he shouted and stripped off his plaid and boots, the only things he wore.
Bliss hurried out of her garments and into bed, not dare glancing his way.
He climbed in beside her, his arm snagging her around her waist once again and yanking her so that her back rested tightly against the front of him.
He rested his lips next to her ear. “You will sleep naked with me in this bed from now on and disobey me again, Bliss, and you will know the wrath of the devil himself!”
CHAPTER 8
Bliss sat on the bed with a blanket wrapped around her as Rannick worked on securing pins that would keep the board in place across the door. A chilled breeze swirled in from the open door, the reason Bliss hugged the blanket close. Though the chill she felt had started long before Rannick had opened the door.
He had said not a word to her this morning, not through the whole time she made a porridge for them or while they ate. She would have attempted to converse with him but the deep scowl on his face had her holding her tongue. It was easy to see he was still angry from last night and she thought it was best to let it be. He would speak to her when he was ready.
Now, though, after hours of silence from him, she found herself eager to speak. She and her sisters had talked endlessly, and she missed conversing with them. While Rannick was a man of few words, she missed those few words.
Once again, the blanket became her shield and she held tightly to it as she raised her chin with a courage she did not feel. “I am truly sorry about not paying heed to your word last night, but I did not want to disturb your sleep.”
He turned his head, his scowl remaining. “That is a poor excuse for disobeying me.”
“Aye, you are right, but I only have the truth to offer you and I truly am sorry.”
“You’ll sleep naked beside me from now on since it will hamper you from sneaking off again,” he ordered.
At least he confirmed what she had thought was the reason for him demanding she strip naked last night.
“And do not think to tell me you will leave,” he said, anger in each word. “That chance is now gone. You made your decision, and you will abide by it.”
“Aye, I have, and I will abide by it,” she said relieved that that worry had been taken off her shoulders. She would go nowhere. This was her home now and he was her husband.
Rannick raised his hand to poke at one of his fingers, then brought it to his mouth to bite at it.
“Something is wrong with your finger?” she asked.