He didn’t think but shoved his way past the people to reach her. If she dared to strike out at the man, she would die. Blood roared in his ears as he raced toward her. He heard a woman screaming and he unsheathed his own sword, hoping to God he could protect Brianna from the man.
He’d watched one woman die, and he wasn’t about to lose another. The image of Brianna’s blood pooling upon the ground, her green eyes sightless, was one he never wanted to see. He’d sooner give up his own life than let her be harmed by the raider.
Arturo didn’t hear the cry that escaped his own mouth, as he raised up the sword and reached for Brianna, meaning to push her out of the way. Nor did he see the flash of the blade as the Norseman seized Brianna and used her as a shield.
He was too late to stop his momentum, and when he reached the woman he loved, cold metal slid into his flesh. Shock froze away any pain as he saw the horror in Brianna’s eyes, his blood upon her hands.
And when his vision blurred, he sank into darkness, hearing nothing more.
Chapter Six
‘Brianna, no!’ came the cry from Rhiannon.
She barely heard her cousin, for she’d dropped to her knees in front of Arturo. He was bleeding, and the knife had stabbed him on the right side of his ribcage. Her mind was faltering, and all she could say was ‘Find your mother. We need a healer quickly!’
‘It wasn’t his fault,’ Rhiannon insisted. ‘Kaall didn’t do this.’
When Brianna turned, her cousin clung to the Viking. Icy rage sharpened in her mind when she realised that Rhiannon had feelings for this man. Her cousin had been leaving each night to spend time with the one who had taken Murtagh’s life.
The dagger might as well have been sheathed within her own heart. ‘How could you?’ She couldn’t breathe from the anger that roared through her.
‘He’s blind, Brianna.’ Rhiannon helped her cut through Arturo’s tunic to stanch the blood flow. ‘I promise you, he had no intention of killing Murtagh. It was an accident. A terrible one, but I can’t hold him to blame for it. Kaall defended himself from a man he couldn’t see.’
When Rhiannon held pressure upon the wound, her voice grew quiet. ‘Forgive him, I beg of you. And me.’
Brianna couldn’t answer. Right now, all of her concentration was focused upon Arturo. He was barely conscious, his face tight with pain. She reached out to touch his cheek, and his dark eyes centred upon her. ‘I never meant for this to happen,’ she whispered. He didn’t speak a word, but simply accepted her answer.
Inside, her emotions were a tangled war of fear. If he died, she couldn’t live with herself. For she was to blame for the wound. Revenge had conquered her sense of reason, and now a man she cared about had been hurt.
‘Stay with me, Arturo,’ she told him, framing his face between her hands while they waited for the healer. His dark eyes closed, though his hands came up to take hers. It tore her apart to see him like this. In the past few days, he’d given her so much. He’d brought her out of her sorrow, giving her a reason to smile. A reason to put aside her grief and look toward the future.
She didn’t want to lose him, not now when she’d come to care for him.
‘Will he live?’ came a gruff voice.
She glanced up and saw the Viking staring with an empty gaze. Though his posture remained defensive, regret lined his tone.
‘I hope so.’
Slowly, with uncertain steps, he came closer. Dropping to one knee, he admitted, ‘Rhiannon didn’t mean to betray anyone. I know what I am and what I’ve done over the years. I deserved to lose my sight.’
‘Kaall, no.’ Rhiannon reached out to him, and in her cousin’s eyes, Brianna saw the anguish.
‘She needs to know.’ The man tried to turn toward her. ‘There was a time when I could see blurred shapes. But when I raised my spear to defend myself that day, I never saw your husband.’ His blue eyes turned to frost. ‘I can see nothing. Not even her face.’
The bleakness in his words underscored his own suffering. Confusing thoughts of anger and hurt collided in Brianna’s mind, for he was right. No curse could be greater than the one he lived with each day.
‘I believe your words,’ she said at last. ‘Perhaps we might...talk later. I need to tend Arturo now.’
Rhiannon let out a sigh, as if Brianna had given her reassurance. But right now, she needed her own strand of hope. As she held Arturo’s hand, she forced herself to look at him and not his wounds. She’d locked her feelings away, shutting him out when he’d tried to help her escape the grief she’d lived with for so long. In his presence, she’d felt alive again, like a woman given a second chance.
‘I won’t let you die,’ she told him. ‘I watched one man I loved die in my arms. I’ll not let it happen a second time.’
His eyes flickered, as if he were fighting to stay conscious. ‘Are you in love with me, belleza?’
She didn’t know. The words had slipped out without her realising it. Never had she thought her bruised heart was capable of loving another man. But there was no doubt that Arturo had slipped within the crevices, helping her to leave behind the shadows of grief.
She squeezed his hand and bent nearer to him. ‘You’ll have to stay with me to find out.’
The healer Aileen arrived, and the matron lifted the cloth away to examine the wound. ‘We need to bring him inside, so I may tend him. But it appears the blade hit his ribs and didn’t go in too deeply.’
Several of the MacEgan men helped lift Arturo while Aileen kept pressure upon the injury. He lost consciousness when they moved him above stairs to one of the bedchambers. Numbness filled Brianna’s heart, consuming her with fear.
The minutes seemed to stretch into eternity while Aileen cleaned the wound and stitched it shut. She mixed a blend of herbs into a paste and created a poultice to draw out any poison. When they wrapped the bandage around him, the bleeding had stopped, but his complexion was pale.
Adriana arrived, with Liam following behind. Her expression was filled with worry and she bent to take her brother’s hand. ‘Will he be all right? How did this happen?’
‘The wound wasn’t deep,’ the healer said. ‘It’s possible that he will be fine. But there is the risk of a fever.’
‘I’ll stay with him,’ Brianna said, meeting Adriana’s gaze. ‘He was wounded because of me. He thought I was in danger.’
It was an accident, just as her husband’s death had been. And though she hated the thought of Rhiannon loving the Lochlannach, she now understood why her cousin wanted her to let go of her hatred.
For so long she’d blamed the man for taking away her husband. She’d allowed the anger and sorrow to consume her, dissolving the rest of her life in endless grief.
But this man, Kaall Hardrata, hadn’t committed murder. He’d sensed Murtagh’s attack and had wielded the spear to fight an enemy he couldn’t see. She didn’t know how to respond to this new revelation.
The healer stood from Arturo’s side and said, ‘He needs rest and time for the wound to heal. I believe Brianna should stay with him alone. The care of a woman can often bring a man back from the edge of death.’ Aileen reached for a flagon of wine and mixed a blend of herbs within it. ‘This will help him to sleep.’ After she poured a cup and set it near Arturo’s side, she rose and went to the door. Then she signalled for the others to leave.
Adriana looked uncertain, and Brianna promised, ‘You have my word. I won’t leave his side until he’s healed.’
‘I should be the one—’
‘No.’ Brianna cut off her words. ‘I care about him, too.’
The young woman assessed her with a sharp eye, unsure of what to do. But Arturo stirred at the sound of their voices and said, ‘Brianna should stay.’ When his sister appeared disappointed, he added, ‘I’ve had worse injuries, Adriana.’
She leaned down to kiss his forehead. ‘I will keep you in my prayers.’
* * *
After she’d gone, Arturo turned to Brianna. ‘W
ill you help me to sit up?’ Upon her face he could see the terror, and he wanted her to know that he wasn’t as badly injured as she feared.
‘No. It will reopen your wound.’ Instead, she moved to sit with him and lifted his head to rest in her lap. She drew her hand over his bristled cheek, studying his face. ‘I truly am sorry for what happened.’
The pain from his wound did hurt, but he was more interested in the thoughts veiled within her face. He saw the worry for him, but he wanted it to be more than that.
‘I’ve no intention of dying over this,’ he said. ‘It’s a shallow cut.’
‘Stop trying to be brave,’ she chided, staring down at him. ‘You bled a lot.’
His hands moved up to cover hers. ‘I heard what you said to my sister. That you cared for me.’
She nodded, and within her green eyes, he saw the warmth mingled with her fear. ‘I do.’
Her whispered words made him reach up to touch her hair. ‘There’s one thing you can do for me, cariño.’
‘What is it?’
His hands slid against her dark hair, drawing her closer to him. ‘Kiss me to make it better.’
The words were spoken in teasing, but she obeyed, drawing her lips to his. Against the gentle touch of her mouth, he countered with his own warmth. Coaxing away her fears, convincing her that he wasn’t going to die.
He had many reasons to live, and she was one that he didn’t want to lose. ‘Marry me, Brianna,’ he murmured against her mouth. ‘Let me take you back to Navarre, to a place where you will be mistress of your own household. You’ll sleep in my bed at night and let me give you children.’
He didn’t give her the chance to answer, for he poured everything he had into the kiss. She needed to understand that he was the best husband for her, a man who understood her better than anyone. Their breath mingled, and at last she pulled back.
‘You haven’t allowed me to answer.’
‘Because I don’t want you to say no.’ He saw the flush upon her cheeks, the swollen lips, and fire in her eyes. Already she’d refused him once. It was possible she still wasn’t ready to let another man into her life.
‘If you don’t let me speak, I can’t say yes, either,’ she replied.
He waited, holding her face near to him. ‘If you say yes, then this wound was worth it.’
‘Don’t say such a thing. I can’t tell you how terrible I felt when I caused this.’ She drew her hand over his hair, closing her eyes at the thought.
‘Then give me the answer I want, mi cielo. Share your life with me.’
She took a breath and opened her eyes. ‘For the past year, I lived with my pain, and I never imagined there would be anything else for me. But then you came to me.’
His hands laced with hers, and he waited for her. ‘Can you put away the past, Brianna?’
She braved a smile. ‘As long as my future is with you.’
Epilogue
It snowed on the morning of her wedding, but Brianna didn’t care. So much had changed, and she was eager to begin her life again with the man she’d come to love.
Rhiannon stood before her, lifting a crown of holly and ivy into her hair. ‘You’ll take Arturo’s breath away when he sees you,’ she pronounced.
Brianna squeezed her cousin’s hand and smiled. Though she would always bear the scar of losing Murtagh, she couldn’t wait to start a new life with Arturo. The Spaniard had helped her to put the past behind her.
‘Are you ready?’ Rhiannon asked.
Brianna was nervous about the crowds who had gathered to witness her marriage but nodded. ‘I still wonder if we should have waited for Arturo’s parents to arrive. Adriana and Liam have not yet wed, because of it.’
‘Let them have their own celebration,’ Rhiannon said. ‘And I imagine it’s because Arturo doesn’t want to wait any longer for you.’
Brianna’s skin tightened at the thought. Though she had already shared his bed, he’d whispered his plans for other wicked intentions this night.
Outside, the torch lights gleamed against the snowy sky. Brianna walked through the throngs of people to find Arturo waiting. His dark eyes warmed at the sight of her, making her feel beautiful as he guided her toward the chapel within the castle.
Inside the small space, her parents, aunts, and uncles gathered around with Adriana and Liam on the opposite side.
‘Our mother will be angry with you for not waiting,’ Adriana warned.
Arturo tightened his hold on Brianna’s hand. ‘I don’t want my bride to change her mind.’
In the glow of candles, she made her vows a second time. Her heart was filled with hope and love. When she looked into Arturo’s eyes, she saw a man who had stood by her in the darkest of times. He’d opened her heart to forgiveness, bringing her to a new life.
And there was no greater joy.
* * * * *
THE HOLLY AND THE VIKING
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Prologue
Ireland—Spring 1192
It took three men to subdue him. Kaall Hardrata strained hard, fighting against the strong arms that had dragged him back.
‘Father!’ his daughter, Emla, shrieked, sobbing as the others took her away. A female voice tried to soothe her, but he couldn’t see if she was reaching for him. His heart was tearing apart at the thought of losing her.
‘Why would you do this?’ he roared at the faceless strangers. ‘Never once has she come to harm.’ Fury blazed through him, that they would dare to take her away from him.
‘You’re not capable of caring for her,’ came the voice of his father, Vigus Hardrata. ‘We allowed it for a short time, but it’s time for her to be fostered with parents who will see to her needs.’
Words caught in Kaall’s throat, with a thousand reasons why it was wrong to take Emla away. She was all he had left of Lína, and he’d done everything in his power to see that the child was content.
‘It’s because of the MacEgan man I killed, isn’t it?’ he predicted. From their silence, he suspected it was true. Although it had happened last winter during a raid, it had been an accidental death when the MacEgan man had attacked him. He’d only defended himself as was his right, but Kaall knew there were those who wanted him dead because of it.
‘I sent the body price,’ he reminded them. Though it had stripped him of nearly all his wealth, Kaall had done what was required of him to support the man’s widow.
‘And because of it, you hardly have enough to support yourself, much less a child,’ Vigus said. ‘Emla will be given to a good family.’
‘She’s mine,’ he insisted. ‘You’ve no right to take her away.’
‘Don’t make this more difficult than it already is,’ came the voice of his mother, Jódís. ‘If you let her go now, she’ll come to love her new family.’
Her hand touched his shoulder, but he shrugged it away. ‘Where are you taking her?’
‘It’s better if you don’t know,’ Vigus responded. ‘Rest assured, her new family will love her.’
He wrenched himself free of the men, stumbling forward until he crashed to the ground. ‘Emla!’ he called out.
But there came no answer from the young girl. Before he could run, they seized him again. Vigus gripped his arm. ‘I’ve no wish to have you bound, Kaall. Let her go, and face the truth. You were never capable of caring for her.’
Hatred rose through him, for they believed it. It didn’t matter that he’d made a home for Emla, provided her with food, and tucked her into bed each night as he told her stories. They saw only a broken man, not one with a father’s love.
‘Bring her to me,’ he said quietly. ‘Once more, before she goes.’
‘It wouldn’t be wise. It will only make her cry again.’
‘I deserve the chance to say farewell to her,�
� he said, gritting his teeth at their patronising tone. ‘Grant me that at least.’
But they refused. And when at last, they let him free, the child was already gone.
Chapter One
Winter 1192
I’ll cast a spell for you, cousin. And on the winter solstice, I promise you’ll find love.
Rhiannon MacEgan highly doubted that a twelve-year-old girl could conjure up a man, particularly one who would fall in love with her. But Alanna firmly believed in the Old Ways. Perhaps Druid blood ran within her veins, or perhaps her Uncle Trahern had told her too many faery stories. Regardless, there was no harm in walking out to the stone dolmen that lay halfway between Laochre Castle and Gall Tír, the Viking settlement. Her cousin could cast whatever enchantments she wanted, and Rhiannon wouldn’t stop her.
The sky brooded with heavy clouds, and the air was so cold, her breath hung in misty circles. Frost crunched beneath her feet, and she drew her cloak tighter as she neared the dolmen. It resembled an ancient altar with two parallel stones at the base and a slanted stone table. Alanna waited near the Druid burial site, while beside her stood Cavan MacEgan. He looked annoyed at having to shadow his younger sister.
When Rhiannon reached them, Cavan sent her a dark look. ‘I cannot believe you agreed to her foolish superstitions. It’s freezing and about to snow.’
‘It’s not foolishness,’ Alanna protested. ‘I promise this will work.’
Cavan rolled his eyes, but Rhiannon sent the girl an encouraging smile. ‘What must I do?’
‘I’ll need a lock of your hair.’ The girl produced a bundle containing a blend of birch bark, and herbs, while Rhiannon used her knife to cut a small lock from the underside of her hair. Alanna wound the dark hair around the bundle and set it upon the dolmen. ‘Now we’ll light a fire, and I’ll cast the spell.’
Cavan withdrew flint and held it out to Rhiannon. She hesitated. ‘Perhaps you should light it. I’m not very good with striking a spark.’
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