by Alice Wade
After a moment of such contact, he felt her body stiffen and all breathing ceased as if she held her breath. She held perfectly still and the only sound that could be heard was the crackling of the fire next to him. Ryan knew she woke up and didn’t move other than to whisper, “You are safe, Milady. No one will bring you harm.”
His only reply was the strangled sound of her crying, but she said nothing. He didn’t move, fearing he’d wake her more, thus breaking the peaceful moment. Within a few heartbeats, he heard her rhythmic breathing indicating she was asleep once more, generating a release of pressure off his heart. Relieved, Ryan relaxed against the stone hearth and let the warmth of the fire keep them for the time being. He’d wait this out and decided to remain where he was for the time being. At least for now, she had peace.
* * * *
Tillian awoke in a panic. The first thing she registered was the smell of wood smoke from a fire. The next was the warmth of those flames against her skin. She felt something warm and soft underneath her and knew she was in someone’s arms. That at first reassured her, but then she remembered where she was and a panic infused her being. Terror instilled her mind when she realized she had no idea where she was or who the man who held her was. It wasn’t her brother Gareth and it wasn’t her captors. They were not this gentle with her. They kept her naked and only allowed her to sleep without a blanket on a mattress away from the fire. No, this gentleness couldn’t be from them. Her brother would also never hold her like this, which raised the question of who it was.
Tillian froze, holding her breath, trying to keep from giving into the panic. She feared they had found her after having second thoughts about dumping her where they had. It wasn’t until this new man spoke, and she heard the tenderness in his voice, that she was able to release the air in her lungs. It was most wonderful sound because the strong voice didn’t match any of her assailants, and reminded her of the man she vaguely recalled coming to her rescue along the road. The sound soothed her and made her feel safe. It immediately calmed her enough to accept he would not bring her harm.
Tillian let the soothing sounds of the wind outside and the crackling of the fire lull her to the oblivion of sleep. Under her cheek, she felt and began to count the strong heart beat that thudded in the chest of whoever held her. The sound pulled her deeper into her much needed slumber.
Flashes of her dream danced across her mind while it descended into the darkness of sleep. Each time Tillian slept, she relived her torment again and again. She feared to close her eyes for she knew what awaited. Tillian didn’t want to go back to sleep, but couldn’t resist the exhaustion. On some conscious level, she knew she faced having to endure reliving their attentions and there wasn’t anything she could do to avoid it. She was tired of the memories, tired of the pain.
For too long she’d been held in their custody while they repeatedly used her, sometimes all three at the same time. That in combination with the drugs they put in her water, caused her to experience a new level of arousal that brought on great shame. Tillian hated what she became but there was a small part of her, a very small part that craved the glorious feelings they generated. Obviously, she’d been freed from that, however. For whatever reason, they’d discarded her at long last once they tired of her sport and escaped back to Folkyn without her.
Tillian’s last thoughts before sleep claimed her were of her brother Gareth. He should have come for her; he should have been there to make sure she wasn’t harmed. So, where was Gareth in all this? Why was he not here?
Ryan looked down in worry when she mumbled something like a moan. Her face pinched briefly before she once more settled into a heavy weight on his chest. Content she was well and good caught in sleep, he decided to follow and closed his eyes. He drifted off to the howling sounds and the even rhythm of her breathing.
* * * *
Pain was the first thing she registered before Tillian felt the warmth and comfort of a well made wool cloak. Her memory was foggy and she couldn’t explain where she was or how she came to be wrapped in strange clothing that carried a rich scent. Her mind tried to place it, like it belonged to someone with enough money to spend on spiced cologne.
Slowly, snippets of a wonderful man came to mind and of lying in his arms near a fire. He must have moved her back to the floor because she was no longer in his arms. Tillian moved in a motion to rise, but felt a strong hand on her shoulder hold her down.
“Please don’t move,” Ryan said. He gently restrained her, concerned it would aggravate her injuries. With her gashes on her body that still bled if she moved too quickly to her pale complexion, she looked frail. He was afraid she’d bring herself more harm by rushing, so detained her.
Tillian’s eyes sprang open and she looked around wildly before centering on his face. “Where am I?” Confusion caused her voice to shake with a violent lurch. What she couldn’t see was the slight pinch of his brows when he heard her question. Her hand came to her head, massaging her temples from the throbbing pain that made it very difficult to think clearly. For a moment, she honestly couldn’t recall why she was in so much pain. Nothing at all came to mind and a panic grew within her stomach because she never experienced such memory loss before.
In the next instant the light from the room blinded her and she cried out, pinching her eyes shut. The throbbing in her head intensified, bringing with it a new level of agony. “Ow!” She clutched at her head when the headache began to pound more violently with each beat of her heart. “What happened to me?”
Ryan leaned forward curiously. “That, I was hoping you could tell me.”
Tillian slowly opened her eyes again to look at the handsome man who squatted before her. The moment she did, her heart lurched in recognition. This was the man who found her…found her alongside the road. Tillian closed her eyes in humiliation. Oh God, I was discarded after being used. Her memory flashed back to the three men who abused her for the past month and she shuddered.
When she paled, the man before her flinched from her reaction and frowned before he reluctantly moved away.
She watched his reaction and felt a moment of regret. “I’m sorry, it’s not you.” Chancing another glance, she saw her words caused a ghost of a smile to flirt across his face. That struck some chord within her soul and she relaxed. Maybe he had meant it that he wouldn’t hurt her like the others. Maybe she was safe. She evaluated her savior from across the room with a new appreciation. He was in his late thirties, handsome with deep laugh lines around his eyes and mouth, and very regal. After a moment, she returned his comforting look with a weak smile of her own, which seemed to pacify him.
“Who are you?” she asked without breaking eye contact. It took all her courage to appear confident, which was the farthest from the truth. All she wanted to do was curl back into a ball under the thick warm cloak she was wrapped in.
“I’m King Ryan.” His voice was rich and deep, and matched the one she recalled whispering to her that she was safe. Tillian paled and then felt her embarrassment color her cheeks. The realization of who her savior was shattered whatever confidence she held in reserve.
Ryan misunderstood her reaction and he continued talking without pause. “While we were hunting yesterday, I found you unconscious well within my hunting grounds. I have no idea how you came to be there or where you came from.” Ryan noticed she was trying to sit up and offered his arm in support. “Who are you?”
“Tillian.” She froze because she should have lied. Her name was unique and definitely foreign. It screamed she was from the neighboring lands of Folkyn. There was no hiding her accent either, which was another dead give-away anyway. Tillian swallowed loudly before she looked back, accepting she’d have to face this one way or another.
King Ryan flinched as if struck. He exhaled loudly before standing up and moving to the other side of the room. He appeared to be debating something internally before he turned back to her in shock. “Tillian, as in Princess Tillian? It can’t be,” he said in disbelief
. “You’ve been missing for two weeks from Folkyn.” He returned slowly as if advancing on a skittish animal and squatted down before her once more. “Are you Princess Tillian of Folkyn?” Ryan couldn’t believe it. Had he found the missing Princess?
She pulled away from his warm gaze and closed her eyes before she answered. She hung her head in shame, nodding once in the king’s direction. He probably knew the reason for her disappearance by now; especially if a message had gone out. Shame burned her face a deeper red and she missed how it caused Ryan to frown more in confusion.
She remembered snippets of the past few months, for she’d been gone a lot longer than two weeks. Realizing the difference from reality to the announcement, it made her heart sink, for it meant her family was covering this up. Like a flash her mind flew through the memories and none of it was proper and definitely not respectful for a young Princess. Three men removed her from her Father’s castle and stolen her from underneath the protection of her guards. Tillian remembered now who they were and they were not kind. They kept her drugged with a substance, ensuring she enjoyed their attention when they repeatedly ravaged her body to new heights again and again.
At the sight of her tearing up, Ryan proceeded with a little more care. “Princess, where have you been?” King Ryan reached out to help her sit up completely. His touch was tender, but strong enough to hold her in place and offer comfort. “King Irfan has been searching for you for quite some time. He feared for your wellbeing and asked for your safe harbor if you were located.” Ryan paused for the woman had not answered his question. “Princess, who brought you onto my land?”
With ultimate disgrace, she met his searing eyes. “I don’t know.” She lied smoothly with a convincing amount of emotion that made her words sound true. She knew Ryan could see she hid something and was grateful he decided not to push her too far at the moment. She felt a fresh wave of tears and her sight blurred when the moisture flooded her eyes. “I’m sorry, but I really don’t know.”
Ryan smiled in reassurance. “Well, you’re safe now. That is all that matters, is it not? You’re a long way from home, but I’ll see to it that you are returned unharmed.” Ryan’s brow furrowed when she flinched in response. It was a strange reaction and Ryan decided to leave the topic alone for the time being.
Grateful for his respectful privacy, Tillian watched him straighten to his full height. He didn’t press her and didn’t intrude. He gave her space to find whatever composure was possible in this situation. Her neck craned up when his six foot plus frame looked down at her before he added more fuel to their blazing fire. She couldn’t resist the smile she felt forming on her lips in response to the look of kindness that blazed in his warm brown eyes. It was a much needed distraction and for the first time since she really awoke, she looked around at her surroundings.
The room was a small hunting cabin, basic in all designs. The floor was planked and well used, the walls covered in a layer of plaster. It felt homey and safe. It was obviously visited enough because it had that feeling of occupancy. There were creature comforts scattered about that announced this, rather than it being just an empty shack. It also carried a thick feeling of happiness. Scanning the space, she immediately saw three beds pushed up against one wall, side by side. One was large, probably King Ryan’s and the rest were made for one man alone.
“Why am I on the floor if you had three beds to choose from?” Tillian asked, confused because a bed was probably more comfortable than her stone of the hearth.
“You were cold. I wanted to ensure you got warm before I moved you.”
A loud noise rumbled in her stomach and caused Tillian to blush with embarrassment. “How long have I been asleep?” If she were this hungry, she must have been asleep awhile.
Ryan’s handsome face quirked into what she accepted now as his smile on his bearded face. He moved to the only space that could be called a kitchen and tore off a piece of bread. He then grabbed a mug of water from the table. “You’ve been sleeping for a full day. I found you towards sunset yesterday.”
“Yesterday?” Her eyes darted to the window which was darkened with night. “What time is it?”
“The sun just set,” he replied. After approaching slowly, he handed both the bread and the water to her without breaking eye contact. He read every minute flicker of confusion that flashed in those sensational green eyes of hers. “I’ve been watching over you until you woke. I wanted to ensure you were well. Obviously, you needed the rest, so I just let you sleep.”
As her arm extended to accept the offering, she first saw her bare skin, which prompted her to look inside the cloak and a torturous sound erupted from her mouth. Tillian was mortified when she realized she wore no clothing underneath. “Oh no.” Her face burned with embarrassment and she turned away from King Ryan again. With a thump, she set the mug down while she clutched the bread in her lap, shredding it in her nervous fingers.
Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong?”
“I have no clothes.” Tillian burned red with a healthy blush when she realized he must have seen her naked. If he was the one who found her, who knew what else he saw.
Ryan smiled. “Well, no, because I found you with none.” He bit back the retort ‘but I’m not complaining,’ and left it unsaid.
He busied himself and tinkered with the fire to make sure it would not go out. He then walked across the room and leaned against the table and evaluated her critically. “I’m sure when you are ready to remember what happened, you will. I have a vested interest as to what transpires on my land, so if you remember anything, I’ll not hold it against you.”
She wasn’t ready to talk about this yet. She let her eyes dart everywhere but on him and her gaze settled on their packs lined up against one wall near the fire. Other than the beds and the packs, the only other adornment in the room was a small table that seated four towards the middle of the room. The same table he leaned against.
“Thank you,” Tillian finally whispered. She collected the mug from her side and paused when their gazes met. She dropped her eyes from his caring stare immediately. The flush of shame spread through her the longer he continued to silently evaluate her. It was as if he saw through her ruse of not remembering. She fumbled with her mug, not daring to look back up. “You must think so little of me,” Tillian whispered. “I’m sure your mind is running wild and I can only imagine what you think of me. Especially after finding me like…this.”
“Peace, you have nothing to worry about,” he said calmly.
Tillian’s eyes continued to evaluate her surroundings and she felt a worry settle in her core. “Where are your men? You said you found me on your hunting grounds so did I disrupt your hunt? Will they be sleeping in here tonight?”
Ryan watched the worry flash through her eyes when she thought of his men being near. He understood her predicament. “You have nothing to be ashamed of, Princess.” Ryan assumed one of the seats at the table and watched her closely, noting her skittish appearance when she kept checking the windows.
She was incredibly beautiful with long black hair and dramatically foreign eyes. His heart swelled just looking at her, but he managed to control any outward sign of emotion. Barely. He crossed his legs and had to stifle a groan, because his heart wasn’t the only thing to swell. Suddenly his breeches felt too tight.
“You have the room all to yourself.” He waited for his words to sink in. Ryan caught the tentative glance in his direction before he continued. “You are correct about the hunting.” He snickered suddenly before he looked at her pointedly and added, “I won’t blame our failure to find a boar on your rescue. Actually, I should say thank you. You saved me the embarrassment of yet another failed hunt. So no, you didn’t disrupt the hunt at all. In all honesty, we were on our way back to the cabin when I came across your body and your situation gave us something to do. I’m glad we found you, though. Your Father’s plea for assistance and the story of your kidnapping has reached far and wide. You are not to blame for
what happened or how I came to find you.”
Ryan spoke with such an open and friendly tone that Tillian couldn’t help but smile. The moment she recalled how he found her, the shame of the situation tore through her like an avalanche.
Again, he mistook her reaction to be pain caused from the injuries that marred her skin and cracked her lips. “I’ve sent for a healer from the village, Princess. She should be here soon.” He paused. “How do you feel now that you are awake?” It took everything in him to remain at the table and not rush back to her side.
She let him think she was in pain instead of shamed, and sighed. “Just tired,” she replied. She shyly watched him through her lowered eyelashes, trying to recapture some composure. He didn’t fit the description of the man that was so feared in her lands; his very name brought nightmares to small children, but seeing his strong arms and legs that displayed his chiseled definition through his breeches and tunic of soft silk, Tillian couldn’t understand why. He was breathtakingly gorgeous and he was showing her nothing but kindness. Becoming bolder, she raised her chin higher and met his strong face, which currently watched her with a surprisingly gentle expression. There was nothing but admiration in his warm brown eyes.
Ryan leaned back in the chair and rested his ankle across his knee. He tried to present a relaxed presence. “Well, you have as long as you need. We can remain for however long is required. Please don’t feel you are being an inconvenience.” He softened his words with a smile. “Finally, to clarify my answer about my men, I’ve asked them to camp outside to give you privacy.” He indicated the front door with his head. “As I said, the cabin is yours.”
Tillian absently nodded and focused her attention on a string she plucked off the cloak. She had a hard time gathering her courage to speak. This man was the opposite from what she understood him to be and she felt extremely conflicted with her overwhelming desire to be back in his strong arms. Her gaze drifted to them and she accepted that he made her feel so very safe. Tillian had no reason to believe anything he said to be false, and tried to let his words sink in without falling apart.