by Denali Day
When, after another moment, Joselyn still hadn’t answered, Hollen pulled them both to their feet. “Your solution is a good one. Everyone will see it.”
She gave a little nod, glancing at the wall behind him. There was something going on behind those blue eyes. Was she thinking about last night? Hollen’s stomach fluttered. He took a breath and he did what he’d been dying to do all morning.
He clasped her behind the neck and brought his lips down softly upon hers. With his other arm, he pulled her into himself, raising her onto her toes. To his delight, she kissed him back. Relief and pleasure swept through him. Regna, he could get drunk off her scent. He twisted his fingers into the hair at the nape of her neck, delighting in the silky thickness of her locks.
They were standing in front of their bed. With one step he could back her into it and lay her across the thick furs. In a breath he’d be upon her, covering every curve of her body with the weight of his own. He’d take his time, ease her along as he explored her, learning what made her breath catch and her back bow. The thought lit a fire in his blood, and he broke away, breathing a groan against her mouth.
Her lashes fluttered against his cheek. He opened his eyes only to be met with the uneasiness in her own.
“Shall we go?” Joselyn whispered as she pulled out of his arms.
Hollen’s neck tightened. Had he done something wrong? Hurt her? He dropped his hands to his sides, taking a hasty step back as he did. “Are you all right?”
Joselyn smoothed her hair down. Her eyes drifted away from his and toward the exit. “Yes, I’m fine.”
Hollen frowned. He suddenly felt like he’d made a major error. Was he pushing her too quickly into her new role here? Expecting too much? He hadn’t thought so. Doubt niggled at him as he considered another possibility.
Perhaps she was still angry with him for last night. He’d been so stupid. She wasn’t a stranger anymore. He knew Joselyn. He should have considered how his words would make her feel. On top of everything else, he’d lied to her. Again. What was he going to have to do to fix this?
Joselyn shifted her weight from one hip to the other. Her voice went cool. “They’re waiting for us.”
Hollen stared at her, trying one last time to decipher her thoughts. Sighing, he resigned. “Come.”
“Leah, Briel.” Hollen stood before the two women. A crowd of onlookers huddled about the open space. Normally a squabble between the two women wouldn’t draw so much curiosity, but Joselyn’s participation was cause for great interest. Everyone wanted to know how the new Saliga would handle her role. Hollen squared his shoulders. His bride wouldn’t disappoint them.
“Since the two of you cannot come to terms on your own, you have agreed to submit yourselves to the judgment of your Salig and Saliga. Is this so?”
The older women shifted their gazes to Joselyn, who stood rigid at Hollen’s side. Both nodded.
Hollen considered having Joselyn announce their verdict, but remembered her odd behavior in the bok and decided to speak instead. Perhaps his bride was rattled at the thought of passing judgment on his people, especially considering she didn’t yet see them as her people.
“Atu Saliga and I have deliberated, and we have agreed that, until Leah’s gneri blade has been found, Briel will relinquish her own.”
Murmurs went up through the gathered crowd. They were mostly approving from what Hollen could sense. Leah crossed her arms, smiling, though it was likely she’d been hoping for a harsher judgment.
Beside her, Briel gasped. “But, mu Salig! She probably lost it in the springs! If it slipped into the pools, she might never find it!”
“Then I suggest you help her,” Hollen said, curbing a grin at Briel’s horrified expression. “In the meantime, hand over your blade.”
Hollen held out a hand, curling his fingers inward. If she’d burst into tears or hung her head in defeat, he might have regretted their ruling, but as he’d expected, Briel reacted as a petulant child might when being corrected.
“This is unfair! She’s a clumsy old woman, and now I must suffer for her empty headedness.” Even as she protested, Briel unhooked her knife belt and stepped forward to give it up.
Just as Briel was about to drop it into Hollen’s hand, Joselyn stepped forward and pushed his arm down. He turned toward his bride, a brow arched. The ground went silent and Briel stilled with her hand dangling in open air.
“This is unfair,” Joselyn said, speaking loud and clear so all might hear.
Hollen stared at her, uncertain he’d understood.
“Mu hamma?” he asked.
Releasing his arm, Joselyn crossed both of hers and pinned him with an imperious look. “How can you justify taking one woman’s blade when you have no proof of her guilt? Is Briel to suffer alongside Leah simply to satisfy her? Why should two women be without their blades?”
Hollen blinked, just starting to grasp what was happening. It seemed those around them were equally confounded. Whispers rose among the onlookers. Briel’s eyes darted between Joselyn and Hollen. She snapped her blade back to her chest.
Hollen inclined his chin, and the muscles in his jaw clenched. What in Regna’s name was she doing? Hadn’t they just agreed how they would handle this? Hadn’t he taken Joselyn’s sound advice and followed it to the letter? Why was she changing her mind? And of all places, why was she doing so in front of the clan?
“I thought we’d come to a consensus.” Hollen dropped his voice down low. He was turned to her now, with his arms crossed over his chest as he stared down at his bride.
Joselyn met his gaze. Confidence brimmed in her eyes. Once again, she spoke loud and clear. “Perhaps you ought to have put a bit more thought into this decision.”
Hollen’s skin went hot. A rumble of disquiet rolled through the witnesses as they took in her rebuff. Had his bride really just rebuked him in front of the clan? On a matter they’d settled between them only moments before? He drew in a sharp breath, just managing to rein in his anger. He turned back toward the women.
“Briel, the blade,” he snapped, shoving his hand back out.
Briel looked from Hollen to Joselyn, her eyes filled with uncertainty. Finally, she gave up her knife. The old woman took a couple of hurried steps back, as though she were getting out of range of an impending volley. Beside her, Leah looked equally concerned. Well, if nothing else, his bride had succeeded in cooling all tempers. Except his own.
Why would she do this? Hollen couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this way. Utterly humiliated. His molars ground together. He resisted the urge to saunter away from the speculative stares of his people and addressed the clan, “This matter is closed. Has it been witnessed?”
“Witnessed,” came a male voice in the crowd.
“Witnessed,” another said.
Hollen shot the two women a final, disapproving look. “Very well. I don’t want to hear any more about it.”
Most of the crowd dispersed at once. A few of the more meddlesome clan members lingered in hopes of catching some extra bits of drama. Hollen swallowed hard and attempted to reign in his anger. Just as he turned toward his bride, Joselyn stepped away from him and after Briel.
“Come, Briel. If this is the way your Salig would have it, let’s search for Leah’s blade in the springs together.”
Briel and Leah both looked like startled animals. The rapid shift in their moods could have been comical. Their eyes flicked first to each other, and then to Hollen, who watched the exchange with a mixture of outrage and disbelief.
Briel spoke up. “I-I appreciate the offer, young Saliga, but—”
“Very well, then. Let’s go now.” Joselyn cut the older woman off, linked an arm under hers, and pulled her toward the women’s springs. Leah followed hesitantly after.
Hollen was so stunned he could barely think until they were more than halfway across the common area. His gaze drifted to those milling about nearby, with their obvious attempts at appearing busy. A few of the women s
hook their heads. One or two men shot him pitying grimaces. Hollen growled and turned away.
The urge to stomp after his bride and demand she explain herself was strong. He actually took a few heavy steps in that direction, but by then it was too late. The gray and red-haired trio were disappearing into the tunnel. He narrowed his eyes. If his bride thought she could wait him out by hiding in there, she’d be in for a surprise.
He huffed and stomped out of the cave.
28
Playing Games
For two hours, Hollen sat waiting. After getting a moment of air, he’d camped himself by the fire outside the tunnel to the women’s springs. He faced the entrance, hunched over a small piece of wood that he’d whittled beyond all practical purpose. She’d get no second chance to hide from him. In his mind, Hollen tossed over the bevy of things he was going to say when she emerged.
At last, he heard the din of feminine voices echoing through the tunnel. Hollen’s grip tightened on the wood, and his heart sped. He took his time glancing up, determined to appear fully in control. When he did, his eyes connected immediately with Joselyn’s. Her expression was uneasy as she turned to say goodbye to Leah and Briel. They cast their half-hearted thanks and farewells over their shoulders, hurrying away from Hollen.
His mouth twitched. He rose and went to stand before her. Joselyn’s expression went completely blank. He stopped a few feet away and waited.
“If you were hoping I’d be less angry over time, you’re going to be sorely disappointed,” he said.
His bride’s shoulders squared and her dimpled chin raised proudly. Her eyes went flinty with challenge. In his periphery, Hollen caught a few curious glances from nearby onlookers. This wasn’t the place.
“Come.” For once, he didn’t take her by the hand. She would follow. She would follow or he’d throw her over his shoulder and carry her to their bok for all to see. Wisely, his bride made no argument as they trekked up the path and through the darkness of their tunnel.
The moment they arrived, Joselyn set to work lighting first the fire, and then every torch in the room. Her movements were purposely languid. Arms crossed, Hollen watched her. She could stall for as long as she pleased. It would change nothing. After a long while, Joselyn fished her comb out of the trunk and settled on her knees across the fire pit. Without a word, she began pulling apart her red braid.
She was testing him. Toying with him. Hollen stayed frozen where he was, piling the weight of his gaze upon her as she worked. When her hair had been combed and replatted to shiny perfection, Joselyn sat fiddling with the ivory comb. She finally looked at him.
He could see her trying to call that stony wall up in her eyes, but it was far thinner this time. Mouth tightening, she spoke. “Well?”
Hollen refused to react to the flash of temper that shot through his body. “Explain yourself.”
She blinked with one slow sweep of her thick lashes. “How do you mean?”
He narrowed his eyes. “So you still want to play games, then?”
She glared at him.
Hollen had convinced himself he wanted to avoid a battle of wills with his bride. She was making it plain, however, that if he was going to have any answers, he would have to dominate her first. He realized suddenly that he was all too happy to rise to the occasion.
His mouth went flat. “Fine.”
He strode across the room. Satisfaction pulsed within him as she waited until the last moment to flinch away from his outstretched arms. Too little, too late. She gave a little yip as he scooped her up off the floor. Hollen tightened his grip and plopped down at the edge of their bed. She squirmed in his arms.
“What are you—”
He covered her mouth with his, muffling her words. Shocked, she was still for a moment before craning her neck back, trying to break the kiss. Hollen pressed forward, thwarting her escape until she was shoving her hands against his chest. They broke apart on twin gasps.
“How dare y—”
Joselyn stuttered as he yanked her up in his arms. He turned her so her belly went flat against his chest. Hollen lowered her back down, hiking the hem of her dress just enough to drape her thighs evenly over his lap. His arms were laced steel behind her.
Joselyn eyes sparked wildly. “You can’t—”
Another kiss, this one more savage than the last. He plunged the fingers of one hand into her silky tresses, holding her in place. Despite his anger, or perhaps because of it, Hollen’s body reacted boldly to the feel of Joselyn molded over him. Heat ignited beneath his skin and a primal growl rumbled in his throat.
“Hollen”—she spoke breathily around his lips, her body stretching taught against his—“stop.”
He loosened his hold and she pulled her face back a few inches. Already her cheeks were flushed, her lips swollen.
“What are you doing?” she demanded, her gaze frenzied.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
Her mouth moved, but no words came out. She blinked rapidly. Her hesitation was all the invitation he required. Hollen refastened his grip and brought his mouth down to her jaw to continue his exploration, trailing up to the hollow behind her ear.
“No, don’t.” Even as she said it, her fingers curled against his chest, bunching up the skin of his furs.
He checked an angry smile before breaking away to stare her fully in the face. “Why? This didn’t bother you last night. What’s changed?”
“I… I…” she sputtered.
Hollen could feel the furious pounding of her chest beneath his. He smirked. He’d succeeded in robbing her of her favorite weapon. Poise. He pursed his lips, allowing her to trip over her own feigned ignorance. “Yes?”
A flash of resentment danced across her face. Joselyn swallowed and her voice hardened. “You’re angry.”
“Am I?” He shrugged. “Why should I be angry?”
She regarded him with calculating eyes. When she didn’t answer, he leaned in for another kiss. Joselyn jerked her head out of his path. This time, he allowed her to retreat. His point had been made.
“I opposed you in front of the clan.”
“You did.” The teasing vanished from his voice. “Why?”
“I’ll do it again. Every chance I get.”
His nostrils flared. “Glanshi, woman! What’s wrong with you?”
“Everything. You should take me back now. Things are going to get a lot worse for you while I’m here.”
Take her back? To the lowlands? His jaw slackened. “Are you serious? That’s what this is about?”
She leveled him with a determined gaze.
“Va kreesha, woman. You’re still trying to get away from me?” Hurt hardened in his stomach. “You humiliated us in front of our clan.”
“They aren’t my clan. This isn’t my home.”
Hollen tried to breathe, but his chest was too tight. He’d made a mistake. He’d been too eager to incorporate her into his life. He never should have included her in such a matter. It was simply too soon. And yet, he could hardly believe she’d be so spiteful.
“This is your home,” he hissed. “These are your people and I am your husband. Has it been so bad for you? Are you so eager to inflict pain?”
Joselyn flinched as though he’d slapped her. She slammed an open palm against his chest, trying to break free. His muscles tensed, and he clamped his arms down hard over her hips. She wasn’t going anywhere. Not until they’d had this out.
She raised her voice. “Me? And what about you?”
He leaned forward, nose-to-nose with her. “What about me? You were prepared to marry a madman. What’s so bad about me?”
“Everything! You’re so much worse!”
Now Hollen sprung back. His arms fell open and Joselyn scrambled off his lap. He stared at her, dumbstruck. She shoved a shaking hand through her hair then pointed at him.
“You have no idea what it’s like for me. The weight of my house is on my shoulders every waking minute of the day. My own father
may be executed soon, and the only one who can stop it is me!” She was shouting now, pacing barefoot around the bok.
Hollen watched her, unable to think. He followed her words, letting her guide him through the miserable muck of her mind.
“And you?” She spun on her heels to face him. “All you’re good for is making me doubt myself. You’re hells bent on appealing to my lesser nature, in making me forget everything that matters in favor of pleasing myself. You seduce me. Make me promises. Promises you could never live up to.”
Hollen tried to think of what promises he’d made her. He’d promised to protect her, not to molest her, not to command her on trivial matters. He didn’t think those were the ones she was referring to. More likely she meant the ones he’d taken even more seriously. The ones to keep her. Cherish her.
“And all the while you have the nerve to feel sorry for me. Well don’t trouble yourself. Because I never asked for your pity, and I sure as skies never asked for you to rescue me from choices I’d already made. I’m not a victim, and you’re not the only one who understands duty.”
Hollen snapped out of his daze. “I never said I was.”
“You think I’m useless. Selfish.”
“No!”
“You think that when it counts, I’ll be disloyal. That you can touch me and spoil me and . . .and . . .” She swallowed over her accusations. “And love me, and that eventually I’ll abandon everything just to make myself happy.”
Hollen was back to being stunned. How had she twisted their relationship into this? Why had she made him into an enemy? He’d been her captor, true. But wasn’t he more than that now? Didn’t she feel anything for him?
“Joselyn—”
She cut him off. “You bring out the worst in me.”
“The worst in you?” Hollen shot to his feet. “The only regrettable thing about you, mu hamma, is that your will is stronger than your wits.”