“And you continue to think what he tells you is the truth?”
“What I know is that people will do anything to protect and reunite with a family they love,” Raven said, a glare in her bold blue eyes that defied him to disagree with her. She never expected the response he gave her.
“Would you do the same if taken from me?”
“I would move heaven and earth to return to you.” Her response stunned her, not knowing where it came from. She quickly added, “I am honor bound to you and my honor will always return me to you.”
His breath caught at her words and though she followed with talk of honor he paid little heed to it. She had spoken quickly, not a trace of hesitation to her words. Had it come from someplace deep inside her that she couldn’t fight against. It made him wonder if his wife was beginning to care for him.
“Nothing would keep me from finding you, wife,” he said with a fierceness that brought a smile to her face.
“Of course you would—you’re honor bound to me.”
“You’re right. You belong to me now and always and I’ll let no one take you from me,” he said, again with such fierceness that it broadened her smile.
“Oh, joy! A husband who will rescue me,” she said with a teasing laugh.
Wolf’s words stilled her laughter. “Only if you let him.”
Brod approached them, ending their conversation. “Iver says the camp is just as Sten described. The man you asked about, Toke, sits off by himself and has a badly bruised eye. The other four drink and talk about what a failure Sten is and it was time they did away with the fool before he damaged their mission.”
“Toke probably suffered the bruised eye for defending his friend,” Raven said.
“That is a strong assumption,” Wolf agreed. “The fools have no one standing watch?”
Brod shook his head. “From what Iver heard, they believe themselves superior to other warriors and believe they will not be discovered.”
“They foolishly believe that because they are Brynjar’s warriors they are invincible. They are about to find out otherwise. Let Iver know the attack is imminent,” Wolf ordered and Brod took off. He turned to his wife. “You will remain here with your men.”
“Iver already lies in wait and Brod will join him shortly. I go where my men go.”
“That is your way no more. I am your husband and you will obey me on this,” Wolf said, a fiery warning to his command.
Raven remained silent.
“I mean it, Raven,” he said, glaring at her.
Still, she remained silent.
Wolf looked to Clive, George, and Fyn who approached and settled their horses directly behind Raven. “Make sure she stays here.”
He didn’t wait for a response, didn’t expect one. And he wasn’t fool enough to think his wife would obey him. The only thing he could do was to see it done before she joined him.
Wolf had his men leave their horses behind and circle the camp on foot, trapping the unsuspecting men. Brynjar thought himself unfailing, superior to all others, and he had instilled that in his warriors. It was one reason they charged ahead into battle, believing death could not touch them. He had seen the shock in their eyes when a sword pierced them or an axe severed them. At that moment, they realized they were not as invincible as Brynjar claimed them to be.
Wolf watched the four warriors talking around the campfire and he caught a quick glance of the man who cowered away from them, his eye swollen shut and a bruise to his jaw. He’d seen hatred enough to recognize it and it was evident on the man’s face as he stared at the four.
The four men suddenly rushed to their feet.
“You got her,” one said with excitement.
Wolf cursed low beneath his breath and looked to see his wife enter the camp area with Sten. His temper soared and he was ready to charge in after her, but he wisely refrained. He shook his head when he heard his wife laugh.
“Actually, I got him and I’m here to accept your surrender,” Raven said, laughter mixing with her words.
The four appeared dumbfounded, but his wife had a way of doing that to people. He held his hand up for his men to remain as they were and the signal was passed on to the other warriors who circled the camp.
Clive, George, Fyn, Iver, and Brod stepped out of the woods to fan out to either side of Raven.
The larger of the four men laughed. “You think five men and a mere woman have a chance against six of Brynjar’s warriors?”
“Six men,” Sten said and waved at Toke to join him.
“You join him and you’re dead,” the large man warned.
“Trust me, Toke,” Sten said and the man went to hurry to his friend.
The large man reached for the knife at his waist and before his hand could brush the hilt, he screamed out in pain. He looked down to see a knife embedded in his hand. He raised it to see that the blade had gone through, the point sticking out of his palm.
“Now there’s only three of you,” Raven said and took the sword George handed her, before drawing his own.
Wolf roared, the signal for his men to attack and they did. He went directly for the large man, seeing him head for Raven, a sword in his good hand. He had seen some women skilled with certain weapons, but never had he seen a woman as skilled with a sword as his wife. She made the man look a fool, the way she skillfully avoided him while her blade, sliced his arms, chest, leg. It was like a cat playing with a mouse, tormenting him before going in for the kill. But his wife didn’t plan on killing the man. She wanted more information.
Raven delivered a swipe of her blade to his sword hand and the weapon fell loose to land on the ground. “Surrender,” she ordered and too late realized his intentions.
The large man grabbed his knife from its sheath and rammed it into his chest before anyone could reach him.
His last words were, “He’ll see you dead.”
Raven hurried a glance around and saw that all four men lay dead, then she spotted her husband. The deep lines in his scowling face warned of his anger. She smiled to combat it. “My plan worked.”
Wolf took hold of her arm, then turned his head to order, “You know what to do.” He then hurried her off under a large pine tree. “NEVER! EVER! Do that again.”
“You refused to even give my plan thought,” she argued.
“You’re right. It was a foolish plan that put you in harm’s way.”
“And yet it was victorious,” Raven said with a proud tilt of her chin.
“It could have proven otherwise.”
“But it didn’t,” Raven continued to argue.
“You constantly fail to realize one thing.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
“I am in command, not you.” His hand rushed to her mouth, his fingers keeping any response from slipping past her lips. “I don’t want to hear another word out of you. You took an unnecessary risk today.” He shook his head when she mumbled against his fingers. “Still, you argue.”
She shoved his hand away. “My life. I defend it.”
He brought his nose so close it nearly touched hers. “My wife. I protect her. Do it again and I’ll see you go without food for two days.”
“I’ve gone without food longer than that. You can threaten me with starvation, beating, lock me away, take away shelter, and it won’t matter.”
It struck him then what she might fear the most. “What if I threaten you with love, Raven? What will you do then?” He kissed her, gently, lovingly, then whispered, “Don’t ever frighten me like that again.”
Her mouth fell open as he walked away. He couldn’t mean that. He couldn’t ever love her. Or did she fear she’d be foolish enough to fall in love with him?
“I’m going to beat him senseless,” Arran said, seeing his sister’s bruised face.
“Wolf didn’t beat me, Arran,” Raven said, sitting in the Great Hall with Purity and hugging a tankard of hot cider in her cold hands. She was grateful that Princess, Purity’s large dog, ha
d decided to lean her big warm body against her leg. The ride here had chilled her to the bone.
“Then how did you get those bruises?” Arran demanded.
“You need to know those responsible were sent by Brynjar,” she said and reluctantly told him the rest.
Arran clenched his hands. “I’m going to put an end to that evil man and I’m still going to beat Wolf for failing to keep you safe. And I don’t care if your men came with you. He shouldn’t have let you come here with the amount of snow that covers the land.”
“I didn’t let her. She snuck away.”
Raven turned along with her brother, Purity, and her men, who sat warming themselves at another table near the hearth, to see her husband standing in the entrance that led from the kitchen into the Great Hall. He was swathed in furs and leather with a battle axe at his side and a scowl on his face that made him appear a mighty Northman ready to plunder and conquer.
“She also didn’t obey me when I went to trap four of Brynjar’s men yesterday. She and her men beat me to it.”
“You didn’t!” Arran said, turning a furious glare on his sister. “Whatever is the matter with you?”
Purity was about to defend her friend when she saw Raven’s men cringing and shaking their heads. She held her tongue and was glad she did.
Raven jumped to her feet. “ENOUGH! I am a grown woman, not a child to be scolded.”
Arran bolted to his feet and yelled, “THEN ACT LIKE ONE.”
Wolf was at her side in an instant, his voice a loud command. “DON’T EVER RAISE YOUR VOICE TO MY WIFE.” He turned a sharp glare on Raven when he saw her ready to speak. “And don’t tell me you can defend yourself. I am well aware that you can, but that doesn’t mean I will leave you to do it alone.”
Purity stood. “Raven and I should have some time alone. You two enjoy some food and drink.” She hurried around the table to Raven and with an arm around her urged her out of the room and up the stairs to her small solar, relieved neither men stopped them.
King, Purity’s cat, followed them and parked himself in her lap once she sat. “Do you want to tell me what truly troubles you?”
Raven stared at the flames in the hearth. “I don’t know how to be a wife.”
“Your sister is maddening. She never obeys me and does as she will,” Wolf complained before downing a good portion of ale.
“Raven has always done what she pleased, I warned my father time and again to curtail her foolish behavior.” Arran shook his head. “He spoiled her. Let her do whatever she wanted and now she’s grown into—”
“A woman brave and selfless enough to set you free,” Clive said, sending both men an evil look. “A woman who leads us with skill and courage. A woman who has survived death twice and saved all our arses more than once. A woman who went hungry more times than she should have and had to survive the cold too often. A woman who lives honorably and loves fiercely. And you,” —Clive gave a hasty nod to Arran— “don’t deserve to have her as a sister.” He turned another evil glare on Wolf. “And you certainly don’t deserve to have her as your wife.”
“What do you mean she almost died twice?” Arran asked, worry creasing his brow.
“She wouldn’t want me saying anything. “You want to know, then ask her yourself,” Clive said and took a swig of ale.
Fyn offered a clue with his remark. “Raven fiercely protects those she cares for.”
It was obvious to Wolf and he could see from the way Arran’s brow went up that he understood as well. Raven had suffered near fatal wounds protecting her men and somewhere the scars he had yet to see on her body would tell the tale.
George added his own words as well. “Raven has been free for the last five years. What do you expect her to do when you want to replace that freedom with a cage?”
“I don’t know how to be a wife either,” Purity said with a laugh.
“You certainly make it appear as you do.”
“It helps that Arran and I love each other. I used to dread the prospect of my father arranging a marriage for me. All I could think about was what would I do if I didn’t like the man. It was a thought I was told never to question. I was to accept whatever man my father chose, even if he was the cruelest man in the world. It was why all those years ago I begged your brother to wed me. I knew Arran would not treat me cruelly, as many did because of my deformed hand. But I know now that a marriage is much better when a husband and wife have a mutual love and respect for each other.”
“Something Wolf and I don’t have,” Raven said, a sudden sadness creeping up to tug at her.
“There must be a touch of something—concern, caring—since he made a point of coming after you.”
“More like annoyance for me not obeying his word,” Raven argued. “He cares not a whit about me. A good, dutiful wife is what he looks for and Eria fits that perfectly.”
“The woman you mentioned that Wolf was to wed.”
Raven nodded. “She’s everything I’m not.”
“Would you want to be like her?”
“Good Lord, no!” Raven said.
“Then what should it matter. You make a far better wife for such a powerful and fearless man. And from what Wren told me, Wolf was genuinely concerned about you when you suffered that arrow to your arm.”
“He sent his men after the culprit, but he stayed with me while the arrow was removed from my arm,” Raven said, recalling how it had surprised her.
“You sacrificed much for your brothers’ freedom, don’t sacrifice anymore,” Purity warned.
“What else is left for me to sacrifice?” Raven said with a defeated laugh.
“A future,” Purity said softly. “It does us no good to continue to think of Wolf as our enemy. He has helped not only Royden rescue Oria, but helped Arran protect our clan against Brynjar. Some of us may not be able to forgive, but we can adapt. You may never love your husband, but at least make him your friend rather than your foe so you can share a good life together and finally know some peace.”
Raven gave her words thought.
“One other thing you must always remember,” Purity urged. “You are not alone. You have your family and you have your men who have become family to you. You are well loved, Raven.”
“That was a foolish thing you did today, wife,” Wolf said as he stripped off his garments in their bedchamber.
Raven stood by the hearth warming herself, the cold having seeped and settled into her bones on their return ride home earlier. He hadn’t spoken a word to her the whole way home, but she expected his chastising tongue to strike sooner or later.
She remained silent, too tired to exchange barbs with him tonight.
“I would have taken you to see your brother if you had asked.”
“I doubt that,” she said. “You would have told me it was too dangerous.”
“So you admit to it being dangerous but not foolish.”
She walked right into that trap. “Think what you will of it. I do as I please.”
“And that’s the problem, especially with your life in danger,” he said and walked over to her.
Raven was growing accustomed to seeing him naked, though she wasn’t happy how her body had been responding to it. At first it was just a stirring in her, then it expanded to more of a tingle that rushed over her and enticed. Lately, however, she had felt herself grow wet in the most intimate of places and that had upset her. How could she desire her enemy?
Adapt.
The old man would advise that and Purity had advised it today as well. And she should know better than anyone that sometimes that’s the only choice left to one.
“We need to come to terms with each other,” he said.
He stood far too close to her and damn her thoughts, since all she wanted to do was rest herself against him, have his arms wrap around her, and let his warmth seep into her. She shivered at the thought.
“You’re cold. You need to get in bed where you’ll be warm,” he said and his hands went
to her plaid and began to unwrap it.
Raven stood there stunned for a moment, her eyes on his fingers, long and lean and powerful, as they worked on stripping her of her plaid. She should stop him, tell him she could undress herself, but she said nothing. She let him undress her, ready to stop him if he should try to slip her shirt off.
“Do you realize the repercussions if you should die shortly after we wed?” he asked but didn’t bother to wait for her response. “Your brothers would wage war against me. Once again people—family and friends—would die.” He dropped her plaid to the floor. “And if you’ve forgotten, I have more warriors. The odds wouldn’t be good for your family.”
His fingers curled around her hand with a firm possessiveness, nearly capturing all of it, and led her to the bed. He rested his hands on her shoulders and eased her to sit, then hunched down in front of her. His hand reached for her leg and she went to pull it away but she wasn’t fast enough, he captured it in his hand. His fingers curled firm around her calf.
“I can do that,” she snapped, uncomfortable with the unexpected sense of intimacy between them.
“I know you can, but you’re going to let me do it for you to show that we can work together without difficulty or protest.” His hand moved to her boot and he pulled it off along with the sock and the other boot and sock followed quickly. “Under the blankets,” he ordered.
She hurried to obey that command, needing a bit of a distance between them, his innocent touch disturbing her in far too many ways she couldn’t explain.
He walked around to the other side of the bed and slipped beneath the covers. “You understand the wisdom of my words, don’t you?”
“As much as I don’t want to admit you’re right, I do understand the wisdom of your words,” she said, annoyed it made sense.
“I am pleased to hear that and now there is something we need from each other for this to succeed.”
Highlander Oath Of The Beast Page 11