“Cursed. That’s what they called me. Because of my eyes, they believed I was cursed. ‘Were eyes’, they said. They thought that any man who married me would be cursed with the same eyes for bedding me. And our children would be the same.”
“That’s ridiculous. Cursed because of the color of eyes you were born with? What about those with black hair? Or those born without a limb, or dumb or blind? Were they cursed as well? What did you do that was so wrong that the gods cursed you before you even got here?”
She held his gaze for a long minute. Her coloring had improved a bit, and her eyelids drooped ever so slightly.
“I’m sorry you went through that,” he said.
Her gaze hardened. “Don’t pity me.”
“I don’t. It’s shaped you into the woman you are, and you’re stronger for it. I’m just sorry that that is what it took to get you here.”
“Into your bed?”
He couldn’t speak. Her sweet breath fell lightly on his skin, cooling it.
“Why did you save me in the woods?”
Because you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and probably the one I am meant to take as a mate. “Because you were hurt.”
“But you don’t know me.”
Adrian’s eyebrows drew together. “Does that matter?”
“Most people would have left me for dead.”
Anger soured his thoughts once more. Is that what had become of the Sisterhood? Were all males outside of Wolvenglen so callous? How could someone not stop and help a female in need?
“Well, I’m not most people.”
“No. You’re not.” She touched his cheek and then ran her fingers through his long hair. “Your hair’s soft.”
Adrian didn’t dare breathe. A flesh-and-blood woman with golden eyes and the mark of the wolf was in his arms. It went against everything he’d promised himself he wouldn’t do. All the years spent burying any desire to find a mate and settle down. All the times he told himself he wouldn’t end up like his father.
Bending his head, he breathed her in. She lifted her chin. Their lips, inches apart, he tasted her breath.
“Adrian,” she whispered. “Your heart is racing.”
“Like I said before, whoever told you that you weren’t desirable because you can’t cook, is a fool.”
She licked her bottom lip, and before he could stop himself, he plunged down and closed the distance between them. The moan that escaped her was enough to send his wolf howling for more. Tangling his hand in her hair, he guided her mouth to his more fully. Her lips parted, and their tongues mingled in a soft swirl. His mind went numb. Adrian pressed closer to her, and her arm twitched. He pulled away quickly.
“Are you hurting?” He searched her face for signs of distress.
“It’s my shoulder.”
Dammit! He shouldn’t be doing this. It wasn’t fair to lead her on. Especially with her medicated. “You should rest.” He laid her on the pillow.
“Yes.” Her eyes held desire and resistance. “I’m sorry for taking your bed again.”
I'm not. “I have spent the night in many of the rooms before. I can do it again.”
“You could stay.”
Adrian swallowed. It had gone too far. She wanted him to stay. Part of him wanted to say yes.
“I should go. I have things that need to be attended to.” Adrian’s wolf was close to the surface. His Alpha sat up and begged like a mutt.
Her eyes closed and he turned to leave. He glanced back at her. A ray of sunlight from the window streamed across her face tinting the golden highlights in her hair.
He fought the urge to feel her in his arms again. He had to get out of there before he did something he couldn't take back.
Chapter Six
When Redlynn awoke, the lamps had been lit, and the sky was dark outside the window. The effects of the opia had dissipated, but left her groggy and not quite herself. An uncomfortable ache in her belly and a tightness between her thighs perturbed her. She wondered if she was close to getting her women’s time. Groaning at the thought, she rolled over. The other side of the bed was empty.
The memory of kissing Adrian assaulted her. What the heck had happened? One minute he’d been holding her as unbearable pain shot through her, the next she had his lips on hers. His lips had been full and soft, and his tongue had danced warmly with hers, making her entire body tingle. As the memory flooded back, the same tingle shot through her limbs and pooled between her thighs. Her first real kiss.
Wake up! You have a job to do. She rolled her shoulders to find the pain had eased.
It was unexplainable. It didn’t make any sense that she felt this way for a man she hadn’t known for more than two days. The women in her village courted for months before settling down. She wondered if this was how it had been with their men from the very beginning. Redlynn grasped her locket through her gown and wished that her mother were around to talk to. Or even Anya.
A howl broke through her thoughts. She shot up in bed. She should be out there tracking them down, not lying in bed like a birthing sow. Redlynn got to her feet and moved quickly toward the table where her things lay. A wave of nausea hit her. The mix of opia and lack of food in her stomach had her reeling, but it didn’t matter. She dragged herself to the table. Her pack was exactly as she’d left it. Her sword and bow lay waiting as well. Dammit! She couldn’t shoot. Not with her arm injury.
Redlynn rotated and slowly extending it. Her arm shook but held. She picked up her bow and tested the weight. Her left hand gripped the shaft. Grabbing an arrow from her quiver, she notched it in place, took a deep breath and steadied her left arm. With her right hand, she pulled the bowstring taut. Her collarbone screamed in pain, and her shoulder tremored. Her aim would never be true. If she went out there now, she’d be lucky to hit a sleeping dragon.
“What are you doing?”
She spun and lost her grip. The arrow flew toward the door. Blain reached out and caught it.
Redlynn scowled. “What does it look like?” She set the bow down.
“Like you want me to shove your shoulder into place again.”
“I’m–”
“Fine.” Blain nodded. “Yes, I’ve heard you keep telling people that.”
Redlynn turned away from his smirk and fiddled with her things. He was so infuriating. She’d never met a man who teased her the way he did. His arrogance and laissez-faire attitude was in stark contrast to Adrian’s solemn demeanor. She’d seen men like him in the village. She’d always felt sorry for the Sisters who married them.
“Can I help you with something?”
“I just came to check on you. See if you’re hungry.”
She watched out of the corner of her eye as he walked up to where she stood, inspecting the arrow he’d caught.
“Not a bad arrow,” he said. “Quite good, actually. A little on the large side though.”
“I want to make sure that what I hit, I kill.” She grabbed the arrow from his prying fingers and placed it in her quiver.
“I bet.” Blain’s gaze drifted down over her form.
Looking down, she noticed how thin her gown was. She crossed her arms in front of her breasts.
“Sorry.” Blain turned away with a laugh. “We don’t have too many females out our way.”
Redlynn got the distinct impression that he used laughter to hide his insecurities.
“With men staring at them all the time, I can see why not.”
“Ouch.” Blain laughed and covered his heart with his hands. “Thou dost wound me to the core, M’lady.”
Redlynn shook her head and blew out a heavy breath. She didn’t have time for such nonsense. “Where’s Adrian? I need to get moving.”
“He went out for the evening.”
“Because of the Weres? The howl awakened me.”
“So, are you hungry then?”
He was avoiding her question. But she needed strength, and food might help quash the nausea and the cramping. “
I could eat, but then I need to be on my way. I told Adrian–”
“Good.” He smiled. “I’ll bring us some food. There are clothes in the bathroom if you wish to put something on.”
Interesting how he speaks to me but ignores what I say. Blain’s casual nature and seeming familiarity with her struck Redlynn as odd. She realized that if she’d ever had a brother, he might treat her the way Blain did. Growing up, people had never been so friendly with her. But everyone she’d seen or met in Wolvenglen had been like... family. It was weird, but she’d been more at ease there than she ever had in Volkzene. It was crazy. She had no reason to be comfortable or safe here; she barely knew these people.
Conflict brewed within her. A place where she belonged and was accepted. It's the only thing she'd ever truly wanted. But... the Weres were still out there, and they needed to be stopped. The Were King needed to be killed as retribution for what he’d done to Anya and the others. Her heartbeat quickened at the thought that she might have a chance at happiness in Wolvenglen. If she ran off now– she had nowhere else to go. She'd already been banished from Volkzene.
Redlynn shook her head, trying to clear it. It’s the opia making me weak-minded. Confusing me and lowering my defenses. I have a job to do. She’d give it one more day of healing, and no more. No matter how right it felt being in the woods, she had to finish what she came to do.
Maybe after... if she lived through it... then perhaps... Don’t be silly! The people of the castle had kept peace with the Weres for years. If she went after them, she doubted she’d be welcomed back with open arms. A thought struck her. What if she weren’t successful and the Weres took out their retribution on the very people who’d taken her in? To Hanna and Adrian and even Blain.
Redlynn straightened her back. She would not let that happen. She’d just have to succeed, then.
She stepped away from the table, and Blain, and walked through the doorway of the bathing room. She closed the door, turned and then groaned. A dress.
A deep red, silk gown with golden brocaded sungolds at the hem hung in the window. Next to it sat a vase of matching sungolds. The dress was beautiful, she had to admit, and again it was strange to see such finery in the woods.
The gesture touched her that he’d remembered her saying they were her favorite, but Redlynn hadn’t worn a dress since she was twelve.
“I can’t wear this,” she called.
“If it’s the wrong color, there’s a whole closet full in the next room. I can bring you a different one.”
“No. It isn’t the color it’s… a dress.”
Blain roared with laughter, and Redlynn cursed under her breath. “I told Adrian you wouldn’t wear it. Bet him five silver you wouldn’t even try it on. But he picked it out himself.”
Something inside her wanted to please Adrian by wearing it. But more, a significant part of her didn’t want Blain to win the bet.
Before she changed her mind, she lifted her nightgown off and threw it to the ground. She strode naked to the washbasin, poured water into it and used a towel to wipe her face and breasts. Then she ran the towel under her armpits and between her legs. When she finished, she used the chamber pot and shivered naked, staring at the gown.
“You alright in there? Need some help?” Blain teased.
“I’m–” Redlynn blew out an angry breath. I’m fine! “I’ll be out in a minute.”
Redlynn took the cloth between her fingers. She’d never worn anything of such excellent quality before. Her mother hadn’t been able to afford anything more than the occasional cotton frock when she was younger. Then after her father had disappeared they'd barely been able to afford the second hand clothing they'd traded for. Inadequacy rushed over her.
Oh, what the hell? With great care, Redlynn worked the dress onto her body. She was used to seeing herself in her shapeless tunics and breeches and was surprised to see how much a dress accentuated her womanliness. Her breasts were too exposed, and the dress hugged her waist. But the biggest problem was her birthmark. In the low cut of the dress, the mark was partially visible. Redlynn tried to cover it with the side of the fabric, but it did no good. Moving her locket clasp behind her neck, she arranged the locket between her breasts.
“You sure you don’t need my help?” Blain’s voice now more concerned than jovial.
Redlynn took a deep breath and opened the door. Blain sat relaxing in a chair with his boots up on an adjoining chair. He’d just thrown a grape into the air, but when he saw her, it missed his mouth and hit him in the eye, not fazing him. His smile fell as he stared motionless.
“What?” she demanded.
He cleared his throat. “Nothing,” he croaked, his eyes dropping to the table. His feet hit the floor, and he took a large swig from his goblet. “Come eat.” He glanced up at her.
“What?” she demanded again, trying to pull the fabric over her birthmark. “Why are you looking at me so?”
Blain lifted his gaze and shrugged, shoving his mouth full of chicken.
Redlynn sighed exasperatedly and sat next to him. Her plate had been piled high with grapes, cheese, bread, and chicken.
She picked up the chicken and bit into it. As soon as it hit her mouth, she found herself ravishingly hungry. Blain silently watched her devour everything on her plate and down several glasses of mead. When she’d finished, she thought her dress was going to pop. Standing she tried to stretch, but her arm had had enough for one day and wailed in protest.
“You know you shouldn’t be able to do that.”
“Do what?”
“Move that shoulder. It takes weeks to heal. And your throat is barely discolored now like the wound is months old.”
“Maybe it was Hanna’s salve,” she suggested.
“Maybe. Or maybe it’s you.”
“What does that mean?” Redlynn snapped. How many times had she been teased for being different? And now Blain was doing it, too?
Blain studied her for another minute, and then smiled, “You want to see what Wolvenglen’s like outside of this room?”
“Yes.” She’d never heard better words in her life. She wanted more than anything to leave the room. What she should be doing is getting out to the woods.
Blain stood from his chair and held out his arm for her. “The wolves will still be there after you rest for a few more days. Besides, you wouldn’t want to leave without saying goodbye to Adrian.”
She studied Blain. How had he known she was thinking about leaving?
He smiled and held his arm out further for her to hold. “I won’t bite.”
She gave a slight smile. “But I might.”
Blain’s laugh boomed through the room and brought a real smile to her lips. She wasn’t the joking type, but somehow Blain’s humor was contagious. And he was right. She was dying to explore the castle before she left.
“Come on, golden sister.” He took her hand and laid it on his arm. “Bite me if you have to, just don’t fall. Adrian would kill me if anything happened to you.”
“Oh, I’m sure he will be happy to be rid of me, so he can have his room back.”
Blain gave her a sideways glance. “Adrian likes his space, it’s true. But I have a feeling you’ll be good for him.”
“Because I’m so trying?”
“No, because you’re special.”
“Trust me. I’m not as special as you think. I’m simply a woman who wants to end the suffering of her village once and for all.”
“The village that doesn’t want you.”
Redlynn’s eyebrows creased.
“Come on.” He showed her out the door.
The hallway was the same grey stone that her room was made of. Lit lanterns hung from the ceiling and a dark rug stretched in both directions. Doors lined the hallway to the left.
“This is Adrian’s wing of the castle but only his room is in use right now.”
They walked a short way to the end of the hall and then turned down an adjoining one. A landing connected to a
staircase. Voices and dishes clinking floated from somewhere up ahead.
They rounded a small corner and the wall cut in half. A giant chamber lay below. Three long, wooden tables, big enough to hold over thirty people at a time, sat perpendicular to the main table. Behind the main table, on the wall, hung a large coat of arms: black with a red bow and arrow over an eye. Two of the tables were close to full of men and she found herself overwhelmed by the sight of the dining hall.
A man noticed her, stopped talking and elbowed the man next to him. Before she knew what was happening, all the men were staring at her.
Under their scrutinizing gaze, her skin flushed with heat. There were so many of them; all large, handsome and strapping- like Adrian.
“Why are they looking at me like that?” Her eyes narrowed, and she glanced at Blain. A chill ran up her spine.
“Because you’re stunning,” Blain whispered into her hair.
The men continued to watch her.
“Make them stop.” Redlynn pressed her lips together.
Blain laughed. “This is Redlynn,” he called. “She is Lord Adrian’s guest.”
In unison, all the men stood and bowed to her. Redlynn cleared her throat but said nothing. As the men stood, a bustle of women and children came in through a door in the corner. Upon seeing the men all on their feet, they turned. Spotting her, each woman curtsied to Redlynn in turn. The children, boys, and girls from young to early teen, waved to her, as well. Hanna held a baby and had two children hanging onto her dress.
“Well, go ahead and eat.” Blain waved his hand at the group. “We’re going for a walk.”
Everyone retook their seats, but the men who didn’t have a spouse continued to watch her as she proceeded down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, Hanna walked over to meet them.
“Hello, Red. You seem to be doing well.” Hanna exchanged a look with Blain that Redlynn couldn’t read.
“It is nice to be up and about.” Redlynn peeked around her at the men. Why were they still staring? It couldn’t be her eyes. They couldn’t even see them from that distance. She wanted to drop her gaze but refused. Looking at the men she narrowed her gaze. They were rugged and handsome. Large and muscular like they'd been grown that way. Nothing like the farmers of Volkzene.
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