Passion the Wolf

by Sable Grey

Breathless Press

Calgary, Alberta

www.breathlesspress.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or

persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Passion of the Wolf

Copyright© 2009 Sable Grey

ISBN: 978-1-926771-04-5

Cover Artist: Justyn Perry

Editor: Justyn Perry

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations
embodied in reviews.

Breathless Press

www.breathlesspress.com

I dedicate this

to the Bill in my life

Chapter 1

Cait hugged her sister close as she peered over her father’s shoulder at the men who’d raided Atherton castle. There had been an army, one that had set fire to the walls of Atherton and chased people from their homes, but only five had remained once they’d secured the castle. They stood near the door as if waiting.

Fiona sobbed softly against Cait’s shoulder, refusing to look at those that had dragged them from their beds and down into the main hall. Fiona’s mother wept as well, curled against Cait’s father. Their only hope was her cousin, Ewan. Cait prayed he’d escaped detection and was on his way to Bathhurst.

At last the door of the castle opened and the men parted. Cait leaned farther to the side so she could see whose heavy step echoed across the stone threshold. Large leather boots reached up the woolen trousers of a pair of long legs. Metal armor made the man appear twice his size, the helmet he’d worn tucked under one bulky arm.

A thick mane of blond hair hung over the man’s shoulder’s framing a face of broad, strong features. His blue eyes narrowed as they swung around the hall to Cait’s family, huddled in one corner.

He inclined his head sharply to one of the larger of his men and Cait’s gaze widened when the man stepped forward and grabbed her father by the arm, hauling him forward. Rebekka instantly turned to reach for Fiona, both of them crying out with fear. Cait released Fiona to her mother and stood alone as her father was brought before the leader of the Viking rebels.

“Is there anyone else?” A deep baritone voice echoed through the room as the man released her father so he could stand without assistance.

“No,” her father answered.

“If I find that you lie to me, I will kill one of the women. If there is someone else here, call out for them to come forward.”

Cait watched her father pale. She didn’t like to see him like this. Aengus Gillpatrick was not a weak man, accustomed to giving orders rather than receiving them.

“I swear there is no one else left here but my family.” Aengus gritted through clenched teeth. “Your brutes chased out everyone else.” His attention darted to Cait and she offered him a nod of reassurance, hoping her support would strengthen him. The Viking leader’s gaze slid to Cait and she lifted her chin, following her father’s lead. She would not show them fear.

“And this is the only family you had that occupied this place?”

Cait’s heart thumped when the Viking stepped past her father and towards her. Still she didn’t waver, forcing her shaking hands to still at her sides. She met the Viking’s gaze vehemently, silently willing him to drop dead before he reached her.

“Yes. Let us go. Keep the castle,” Aengus called.

The Viking halted in front of Cait and then turned to look back at her father. “This is your eldest?”

“Leave her alone.”

Cait yelped when the Viking reached forward and grasped her by the hair of the back of her head and turned. “And you would sacrifice her over telling me the truth?”

Cait balled her fist and swung, hitting the man in his face with all of her might. She wasn’t nearly as strong as he but it was enough force to make his grasp on her to loosen. She spun away from him and glared when he faced her. She felt smug satisfaction when a bit of blood dotted his lip.

“Do not place your filthy hands on me again or I will claw out your eyes and feed them to the dogs!” Cait hissed. “As he said there is no one left here. My cousin escaped before your men could find him.”

“Your cousin?”

“Yes. He will bring back an army that will crush you and yours and we shall dance upon your graves every night of our lives so that your souls never rest for what you’ve done to our home.” Cait spat on his boot.

He looked down and then back at her before turning and nodding again to the large man near her father. He instantly stepped through the door and returned moments later Ewan in tow, beaten and bloodied. She cried out and started to rush forward but the Viking caught her around the waist and shoved her back.

“As you see he did not succeed.” The Viking turned. “I am Biel Vard and I claim this castle and the lands with it as my own. It will be called Blaidden and all that remains on this land after this night will become my property.”

“This is our home!” Cait yelled at the back of his head.

“Cait, quiet,” Aengus commanded.

“You may take your wife and one of your daughters and leave this place.” Biel continued. “Or you can stay and do my bidding as your new master.”

“I cannot leave without my entire family,” Aengus argued. “I will leave but with my wife, both my daughters, and my nephew.”

“Then you choose to remain.” Biel glanced back at Cait. “And I will take one of your daughters as my woman.”

“You cannot. You will not!” Aengus lunged but two of them grabbed him before he could get to Biel.

“I can and I most certainly will.” Biel’s gaze dragged to Fiona. “But you may choose which.”

“I will not choose,” Aengus refused.

“Take her!” Rebekka suddenly pointed at Cait, pushing Fiona behind her. “Take her and we will leave this place.” Cait stared at Rebekka. She’d known the woman had always resented the love Aengus had for his first wife, her mother, but until that moment she’d never felt unloved herself.

Fiona howled and pulled from her mother’s embrace running to Cait’s embrace. “No!”

“We will not leave. And I will not choose.”

“Then you will die and your wife will make the choice in your stead.” Biel unhooked an ax from his side.

“Me!” Cait stepped forward, despite Fiona’s wail, and waited until Biel turned to look back at her. “He chooses me. Leave him alone.”

“No, Cait,” Ewan argued.

“Cait,” Aengus’ voice was defeated when Biel inclined his head and reattached his weapon.

“Take the rest of them to the tower and keep them there,” Biel commanded and his men moved to do as he bid. Cait watched them as they were taken from the hall and up the stone stairwell. Fiona’s protests and Rebekka’s weeping quieted as they were taken farther into the belly of the castle, leaving an uneasy silence to bounce around the corners of the hall.

“It was a wise choice.”

“Choice?!” Cait whirled to face their captor, leaping forward to assault him. Her fists beat upon the rough leather of his armor until his strong fingers wrapped around her wrist. But she would not settle. Instead she leaned forward and sank her teeth into his solid jaw. She heard him grunt moments before the coppery taste of him filled her mouth. She collapsed to her knees when he shoved her from him.

“Very good, Biel,” one of his men, the largest built of the five, returned and called from the stairwell above them. “You succeed in beating upon a helpless woman the moment I turn my back.” He began descending.

Cait smiled evilly when Biel lifted his hand to his jaw. She would show him just how helpless she could be. Jumping to her feet, she swiped the candelabrum from its place on the table against the wall and whirled, swinging it into his shoulder with a shout. She swung again. And a third time until he grabbed it and wrestled it from her.

Her gaze darted around for the next weapon but she didn’t move quickly enough and the Viking’s thick arm wrapped around her, trapping her hands at her sides. She yelled and kicked at him until he raised his hand. Closing her eyes, she waited for the blow that never came.

“If his men had nearly as much fight as his offspring, we would never have gotten past the gates.”

“What happened to your face, brother? Did she bite you?” The man behind them drew near, but Cait didn’t look behind her. She knew the leader was the real threat. Her father had taught her much about men and war. Biel Vard was the core of the evil that had rained upon them.

“More beast than we,” Biel murmured, shoving her away from him.

“The other girl and the mother are helpless and weak. The father took a crack at Boris. He is not feeble despite his age.” The man’s fingers touched Cait’s arm and she jerked away, placing a few steps between her and the men.

“Neither am I. You will have to kill me before I allow you to touch me with your filthy body.” She took several more steps backwards then turned and started to bolt.

“Then bring me her sister.” Biel’s deep voice stopped her at the doorway. Cold fear slipped through her body. Fiona wasn’t like Cait. This hulking Viking would break her sister.

“Send them away from here and I will do as you wish,” she countered without looking back.

“You are in no position to barter with me.”Biel’s heavy step drew closer and then stopped behind her. When he spoke it was directly next to her ear, causing her to jump despite her attempts to appear unafraid of him.

“It is not that wisp of a sister that I want anyway. I’d rather it be you.”

Cait balled her fists. “Why would you think I cared what you wanted? You and your dogs stormed my home and are ripping my family apart.” She faced him slowly. “I am not stupid. I know what you mean to do and why you mean to do it. By wedding and bedding me it gives you more legal right to claim my home as your own. Is it not enough that you have forced your way in here? That you shall force yourself into me? Are you so weak you feel you cannot accomplish what you mean to do without sending my family away now?”

“Bring the vicar.” Biel’s gaze never left Cait’s.

A few moments later a man in a robe was brought into the room. Biel reached forward, took her by the arm and walked back to the center of the room. He inclined his head as Cait jerked her arm from his grasp.

She felt like choking the vicar as he began the ceremony. When it came time for her to verbally accept the marriage, she hesitated, glaring up at the Viking. He raised one thick brow and waited. There was nothing she could do.

Suddenly she smiled. She would marry this beast and then she would make him regret he ever set eyes on their gates. She would make him pay. That much she did have control over.

Affirming the union, the rest of the ceremony was but a faint whisper to her thoughts. Instead she filled her mind with all the acts of defiance she would assault him with. As the ceremony ended, she faced her new husband, feeling much stronger. He leaned forward to kiss her, gaze searching hers when she did nothing to stop him. Closer still and she smiled sweetly before raking her nails across his face. Curses erupted from his lips and bounced across the hall as he jerked away from her. The other that had stood as witness, of whom Biel had called brother, laughed.

“I am almost jealous she is not mine, Biel.” He continued to chortle.

“Let us get this done with.” Biel growled and slanted a glance at his brother. “And you are too soft, Loegaire. She would have already eaten you as her midday meal.” It was meant as an insult to his brother. But Loegaire laughed again anyway, nodding.

Cait watched Biel begin removing his armor, realizing he meant to make the marriage legal that very moment. “Can this not be done without an audience?”

“I will have witnesses to the consummation.” He dropped his weapons and armor to the side and pulled the ties of his leggings.

“If it is as pathetic as your honor, they shall have forgotten it by morning.” Cait directed her words to the heart of him.

“Silence,” he commanded and took her arm. “Don’t fight me and it shall be over quickly.” He walked her to the table near the wall, and then turned her to face him. This time she spit in his face.

“From this moment forward I shall fight everything you attempt,” she vowed. “I shall give you no peace. You stormed the wrong gates if you thought to find yourself a docile obliging wife.”

Biel wiped his face, staring down at her with hard eyes, and then he surprised her by turning and facing the vicar and his brother. “The vicar remains here until the marriage is consummated….by her choice”

Cait wanted to scream with victory. “Then you shall never be rid of him.”

“Shall I take her to her family?” Loegaire asked.

“No. While she is not to be locked up as they are, she will have nothing more to do with them. And if she tries to escape or help any of them escape, kill her father.” Biel’s final words echoed behind him as he headed from the great hall. Cait’s triumph plummeted in her stomach.

“I cannot remain here. I have responsibilities. Just do as he wishes, girl.” The vicar growled and Cait’s anger returned. The vicar’s head snapped backwards when she hit him. She whirled and fled upstairs. She needed a quiet place to think.

Hours later, Biel stepped into the great hall. “Where is she?”

“In the master bed chambers,” Loegaire answered. “She’s probably waiting on you with a dagger in her boot.”

Biel grunted in agreement. “She bites like a bear.” He touched the mark she’d left on his cheek and almost smiled. Cait Gillpatrick had been an unexpected fire burning in the hearth of her father’s castle. She’d had spine and had shown no fear of him. Even when she’d thought he would truly strike her she had closed her eyes and waited without flinching. Biel respected women with that kind of courage. And so did his brothers.

“You won’t force her.” As if reading his mind, Loegaire spoke his thoughts.

“I will not.” He glanced towards the stairs.“It is not my wish to break the spirit of these people.”

“I doubt she could be broken even if you had it in mind to try.” Loegaire laughed. “Bonny thing to carry such weapons.”

“She was armed?” Uif sounded surprised as he looked up from the table between Loegaire and Biel.

“Her tongue cuts deeper than a sword,” Loegaire revealed, then addressed the eldest of them again. “She will not relent. It will not happen tonight.”

Biel wanted to join his brothers but knew he must finish the business at hand before he could rest. He left them and made his way the stone staircase and to the master bed chamber.

Turning the handle, he allowed the door to swing open, half expecting her to be waiting with some new weapon to bash him in the head with. Instead, he found her standing across the room looking out the window. Entering, he smiled when she didn’t turn to face him, as if she had no fear of him at all.

He closed the door behind him and walked to the center of the room. Crossing his arms, he waited, allowing her to take the time she needed. Loegaire was wrong. It would happen. She would submit to him for her family’s sake. It was the only vulnerability she’d allowed them to see.

“I shall agree to do as you wish, to become your wife in the eyes of God and the King. I shall do it only this once and you will send my family away from here immediately after the vicar agrees the marriage is consummated.” She still didn’t face him. “You will send them away even when my father refuses. And you will not send them away as servants but with honor so that when they arrive and my uncle’s home, they will not be disgraced.”

“And if I refused to do what you think you can command?”

“Then I shall continue to refuse you and you shall never have your legal right to Atherton.”

“Blaidden,” he corrected.

“Not until this marriage is consummated. Until then it is still Atherton and still belongs to my father.” She lifted her chin. “I am not stupid.”

No she was not. She was very clever. He studied her a moment and then walked across the room to the large chair near the hearth. He didn’t look away from her as he settled into the cushions. Stretching his legs out, he folded his arms over his chest and continued to regard her in silence.

“It is what you meant to do to begin with was it not?” She met his gaze.

“That was before you married my face with your fangs.” He saw the momentary lift in the corner of her lips then blew out a breath. “Very well. I want this business finished quickly. I shall send your family to your uncle’s home less you and your cousin.”

“Do it now and you may bring back the vicar and your brother as witness this very moment.”

“No.” He shook his head. “We will consummate this marriage and only then will your family be safely released.”

“My cousin with them,” she pushed.

“Your cousin stays.”

He watched her frown then finally inclined her head. “Then quickly be done with it. I shall not rest until my sister is away from you and your horde of dogs.”

***

“Your mood is too foul to be that of a man who succeeded.” Loegaire scratched at his thick beard. “What is wrong? I will kill the problem if for no other reason than to save myself from suffering your scowl.”

Across the hall, Cait appeared. Biel watched her walk the length of the room. She held her head high, her shoulders back and she walked spine straight. When she was almost to the door, Uif stepped in front of her. Her eyes widened and she attempted to step around him but he did not allow her to pass.

“I thought I was allowed to move about as I pleased once my family was gone?” She lifted her voice but didn’t even look in his direction.

“Do not attempt to run,” Biel called and gave Uif a quick nod, who in turn stepped aside, reached back and pushed open the door for her.

“I wouldn’t think of doing so without slitting your throat first.” Cait stepped forward through the door before Biel could respond. Loegaire’s laughter filled the hall and Biel would have laughed himself if it were not the memory of her lifeless expression from the night before haunting him.

“You cannot tell me that she does not light your fire with that spine of hers, brother,” Loegaire accused as Biel stood set the ax aside. “If she were mine, I’d follow her wherever she was going and make her realize how much she wanted to be my bride.”

“She doesn’t want to be my bride, Loegaire. She was forced into this marriage by me and she shall continue to hate me for it.” Biel shook his head. “It matters not. We have prevented our enemies from moving closer to our families. That is all that matters.”

Loegaire’s gaze narrowed. “She is the reason your mood is so foul?”

“We should start building the new wall around this place. The one we nearly burned was inadequate and couldn’t keep sheep out of this place.” Biel headed for the door. “I want Blaidden so solid that our enemies wouldn’t dare cross that bay.”

“Biel,” Loegaire followed him into the sunlight. “You said she did not weep.”

“She did not.” Biel winced. “She just lay there glaring at me, telling me how much she hated me”

“Why didn’t you change her mind?”

Biel found Cait leading a horse from one of the stables— his horse. He watched her slide her hand down the horse’s mane gently and lean closer to speak to the animal. His own steed betrayed him by lowering his head to nuzzle the woman’s palm.

“She deserves her anger,” Biel murmured.

“Does she deserve to remain in a marriage that she resents or one that she might embrace?” Loegaire argued. “You know you could change her mind about you.”

Biel allowed himself to smile. “I do not know, brother. Her determination is nearly as intimidating as you are.” Cait smiled at the animal she was stroking but lifted her attention when Loegaire laughed. When she found Biel watching her, her smile disappeared and her expression hardened.

“She will try to run,” Loegaire warned.

“Yes.” Biel nodded.

“Shall I ready you a new horse for the chase since she thinks to steal yours?”

Biel watched Cait climb onto Odin’s back. “No.” When he looked at his brother he saw the look of surprise.

“I have never known you to let go of anything that was yours.”

Biel hadn’t thought about that. She was his now. He watched her ride the horse through what was left of the gates. No sooner was she through them, did she kick the horse into a full gallop.

“If she gets to the river, you might lose the trail,” Loegaire warned.

“Get me a damned horse,” Biel growled. Loegaire nodded and headed to the stables, leading back two readied horses.

“You are coming with me?” Biel watched his brother slide atop one of the horses.

“I like her spine, brother. I can’t wait to see her lash out at you again.” Loegaire’s beard bunched with his grin. Biel grunted in response as he mounted the mare and gave her nudge.

It took them fifteen minutes to catch up with her. She’d almost made it to the river when they rode upon her. She leaned further down on the horse, urging the animal to run faster but Biel rode alongside her, reached over, and grasped her around the waist. As he lifted her she hit at him and then kicked, knocking them both off balance.

Biel hit the ground first, her atop him. For a moment neither of them moved. Then she leapt away from him, scrambling to her feet. She backed away as he rose and he watched her gaze dart around and then rest on a broken limb. He smiled when she dove for it and then brandished it in front of her like a sword.

“I told you not to run.” He grunted at the pain in his shoulder from his fall and reached up to massage it as he rolled it forward.

“You got what you wanted. You don’t need me now.”

“And what of your cousin? With you gone, I have no reason to allow him to live.” He saw her eyes widened moments before she charged at him, her limb lifted. He caught it in mid swing and wrestled it away from her. She delivered an effective kick to his shin just as Loegaire returned with the horses.

“Do you need any help, brother?”

Biel slanted a glare at his brother moments before she kicked at him again. This time he ignored her strike and reached out to grasp her arm. Her nails dug into him, raking from shoulder to elbow. Growling a curse, he spun her and pulled her back to his chest, trapping her arms at her sides.

“Stop!” But his command went ignored as she jerked her head backwards and into his jaw. His hold on her loosened and she bolted away from him when he shook his head against the pain. Heat filled him. He couldn’t deny her fight was arousing.

It was apparent that he wouldn’t be able to muscle her into doing what he wished or he would end up hurting her and that thought had no appeal. “Your mother gave you up so easily that one would think you would be grateful.”

Her eyes widened. “She is not my mother and why should I be grateful! You came in and destroyed my home, took my family away from me.”

“Blaidden is mine but it is also yours now.” He shrugged. “If it were not for me everything your father owns would have gone to your cousin. And I give you a family. My brothers are now your brothers.”

“I don’t look at her like a sister,” Loegaire piped clearly ignoring Biel’s slicing glare. “She’s much better to look at than anyone in our family and I do not know any of our females that could best you as she has.”

“If you are not going to help, could you just leave us?” Biel growled.

Loegaire rolled his eyes and stepped forward towards Cait. Biel liked that she didn’t cringe or flinch. Instead she lifted her chin as if ready to turn her attacks on his brother if he meant to grab her.

“Come along now, bonny Cait. No need in wasting your time like this when you could be planning another escape. He is too stubborn to give in and will allow you to continue to beat upon him until you are too weary to stand. Then he will carry you back.” Loegaire held out a large hand. “Besides, you have many more weapons to use against him at Blaidden. I’ll give you the use of my own sword to run him through with if you’ll come back with me now.”

“I meant help me.” Biel frowned.

“You lie. I am not stupid.” Cait’s gaze narrowed on Loegaire.

“Nay you aren’t stupid. I wouldn’t like you so much if you were. Neither am I so I do not offer it to you now. I don’t want you to accidentally crack my head open instead of his.” Loegaire wiggled his fingers, hand still extended. “I’ll give you use of my sword and if he bests you anyway, I’ll teach you how to use it. Eventually you’ll wear him down if you are as willful as I think you are.”

“Why should you want me to kill your own brother?”

“I don’t think you’ll kill him, bonny Cait. He’s as tough as leather. But I wouldn’t mind you harming him a bit for not offering you more gentleness last night. He did you an injustice from what I understand.” Loegaire glanced over his shoulder at Biel. “He could have made it better for you.”

“Men do not care of a woman when they climb atop them.” Cait argued and Biel noticed that some of her fight was leaving her voice. Even her stance became more relaxed.

“Some do. He normally does. I imagine he was too ridden with guilt and am surprised he managed to even perform the basics.” Loegaire smiled when the corner of her lips lifted slightly. “Will you not come back with me? I am not as proud as he. I will get on my knees and plead for your return if you so wish it though I might need assistance getting back up. My feeble body has seen too many battles to move as agile as I would like.”

Biel’s frown deepened when he saw her softening. His brother was doing what he should have done, offered her kindness and seduced her with warmth. But she wasn’t looking at Loegaire as she’d glared at him the night before.

“You are no more feeble than I am…” she stopped, her eyes narrowing again.

Good, Biel thought to himself. She was at least intelligent enough to know what he was doing.

“You raided my home. You beat my cousin bloody. Why should I trust you would hand over your sword so easily?”

“I didn’t ask you to trust me, bonny Cait, just to entertain me with your attack on my brother. It amuses me and I shouldn’t be made to suffer his foul mood without some amusement at his expense.”

“If you were not my brother, I would hate you.” Biel snapped. “Enough of this. My patience is gone. You are coming back to Blaidden even if I have to drag you back by the hair of your head.”

Her icy eyes swung back to Biel and then with a mocking smile, lifted her hand and slid it into Loegaire’s. “If he does not give me his sword, I shall steal it and bury it tonight in your skull.”

Loegaire chuckled and closed his fingers over her hand. She offered no fight as he led her back to the horse he’d tied to his own. Biel felt like drawing his own sword on his brother as he watched him help Cait onto the horse. She didn’t even make an attempt to escape, instead stared defiantly at Biel while Loegaire mounted his own horse.

“Are you coming?” His brother grinned down at him.

Biel didn’t answer, pulling himself onto his horse. He turned and led them back to Blaidden. When they arrived his brother’s cheered but she walked past them back into the castle. The moment they were in the great hall, she turned and held out her hand.

“Your sword?”

Loegaire smiled at her as some of the others filed in behind them. After a moment, he unsheathed his sword and offered her the hilt. Her eyes widened as if surprised he had not lied.

“He is big, but he is fast,” Loegaire warned as she reached forward. The moment he released the weapon to her, the tip dipped and hit the floor. Biel watched her lift the weapon with both hands.

“I don’t have time for this. There is a wall to be built.” Biel started to turn.

“Perhaps something to entice him, bonny Cait,” Loegaire suggested. “You cut him, you are allowed to go free. If he can get the sword from you, you give him a kiss…one without teeth and claws.”

“Just one cut?”

Biel saw the look of hope flare to life in her eyes. It made him angry, mostly at himself. He faced her fully when she lifted the sword. Of course she would try to use it. As she advanced so did he. He intended to just take the weapon from her but then she surprised him.

The sword arched up and she shifted her weight. God’s blood! She knew how to use it. He stepped backwards as the sword came down and back again when she lunged, the point directed at his chest. Behind her Loegaire laughed and clapped his hands together, pleased with the discovery that she could use the weapon.

It was too heavy for her and while her movements were slowed, her swipes were deliberate. “Give her something lighter. She can barely lift that one.” One of his brothers stepped forward and held out a smaller sword. She traded it out while Biel retrieved his own weapon.

This time she moved much quicker but with his own sword he was able to block her strikes. “Use your weight to add force. When you swing, do with your whole body, not just your arm.”

She frowned. “You will tell me how to kill you now?”

“You will not kill me but I can see it is not the first time you’ve lifted a weapon.”

“My cousin taught me so he could practice.” She swung and then jabbed, nearly hitting his side. “And while I might not kill you, I will strike you so that I can leave this place.”

Biel sheathed his sword and waited for her to get close enough. She swung and he stepped closer quickly grasping the weapon with one hand, above hers, and with his other, wrapping his fingers around her arm. He jerked the weapon away and thrust it towards Loegaire.

Her hope fled, replaced at first with devastation, and then with anger. “And now you will take your kiss I suppose.”

“No.” He winced and softened his voice. “No, I will not take it. I believe the barter you made was that I was to receive a kiss from you.” He allowed his fingers to loosen on her arm and brought the other, when Loegaire retrieved the weapon, to her hand.

“It was my mistake in thinking I could strike you but your brother said he will show me how to use the weapon. It is a small price to pay so that I can be more successful the next time.” She jerked her fingers from his. “Please do not feign tenderness. It is too late for that. I’ve seen your true nature and it would be ridiculous to pretend you are otherwise now just to impress your brother.”

“Mayhap I want to impress you,” Biel suggested and then almost smiled when she snorted. “Very well, if you will not accept my civility then I shall do as you assume I will and take what is mine.”

She lifted her chin. “Nothing of me is yours. You think that climbing atop me you somehow laid claim to me?” Her laugh was mocking. “I allowed you to do that to save my sister from you. If it were not for that fact alone, Atherton would still belong to my father.”

He grunted, “A choice I allowed you. Do you not realize that everything you did was by choice granted to you by me? Were I less, I might have come in and forced myself upon you and your sister. The vicar could have married us while I was in you.” He didn’t expect her to slap him, though he should have. Her fingers left a sting on his cheek.

“And now you are my wife. You are mine. And I will do with you whatever I wish. I have shown patience and allowed you to fight back. But you do not mistake my patience for weakness. If it were my will I could have you and pass you around to my brothers.”

She poked her finger into his chest. “And is that your will? It would not surprise me and at least I might be offered some pleasure of my own from one of them.” Her words were her weapons now. “Men think sex gives them power over women, that they can break a will by violating a body. It is that stupidity that I am counting on for it will offer opportunity to run you through.”

Biel glared down at her, barely hearing the low warning that Loegaire murmured. Her fight aroused him. She had spine and refused to be intimidated. His brother had told him that she’d hit the vicar. Now, she glared at him, her gaze unwavering.

“I shall advise you that in the future if you wish to barter for your freedom that I am the one you should make your deals with. My brother offered you freedom that was not his to give. Even if you’d succeeded in harming me, you would have had to remain here.” He cocked his head to the side when her eyes widened.

“Yet you mean to claim a reward for my not harming you?” She whirled on her heel and stamped towards the stairs. She didn’t look back as she ascended and then disappeared from view.

“You should have just kissed her.”

“She makes it damnably hard to do that.” Biel growled at Loegaire. “And you don’t help matters at all.”

Chapter 2

Cait lay in bed and listened to her Viking husband enter the chamber. The hour was late. He’d spent most of the day helping his men start the construction of the new wall. She’d watched them from the window for hours. Once he’d looked up at her. She’d met his gaze with a glare and could have sworn he she saw a little smile on his lips when he turned away.

He did not light a candle but undressed in the dark. She held her breath when the bed gave way to his weight and gripped the blankets when he slid beneath them. She could feel the heat of his body even before he rolled towards her and draped a thick arm across her waist.

“Don’t touch me.”

For a moment he didn’t move, then his palm slid up between her breasts and laid flat. He pulled her backwards, sliding her to him. She tried to scoot away but he held her where she was.

“You are filthy and disgust me,” she snapped.

“And you have the tongue of an asp.” But he chuckled and it infuriated her. She grasped his arm and turned her head, biting down into his skin. He sucked in his breath and jerked his hand away but a moment later he’d rolled her to her back and loomed above her. She stared wide eyed at his eyes, rooted with fear, unable to scream when they glowed yellow at her.

“Do you know how a man of the wolf claims his mate? His bite. Unless you wish me to mark you as mine, do not bite me again because every time you do it, all I can think of doing is climbing atop you.” His voice was deep, his breath hot against her face. Those eyes held her. He wasn’t man, she realized. He was some kind of devil, something evil.

“Please don’t kill me,” her own voice trembled.

He stared at her for a few minutes and his eyes dimmed and then returned to normal. Slowly he eased from atop her and settled next to her but she remained as she was, staring up into the darkness, her heart pounding. Man of the wolf, that is what he said. She felt ill. She’d allowed him to consummate their marriage the night before, a marriage that was not to just a man but to some kind of evil beast.

She suddenly leapt from beside him and away from the bed. In the darkness she saw his form rise to sit up. She backed away until she could press her back against the farthest wall.

“What are you doing?” His form stood and walked towards her but she closed her eyes, willing him to go away.

She listened to him draw closer and then jumped when his hand touched her cheek. She turned her head.

“I am man,” he said quietly. “I am of the wolf and can take on its form but I am still man.” His knuckles grazed her jaw and she whimpered. No man had yellow eyes like that.

“Don’t.” He grasped her jaw and forced her face forward. “Kick at me if you are afraid but do not cower.” She didn’t open her eyes, too afraid of what she might see. And then the next moment, his lips brushed against hers. She lifted her hands and shoved against his solid chest.

“That’s it. Don’t let fear make you weak, Cait,” he murmured against her mouth and she shoved again. Then hit at him as tears slid down her cheeks. She sobbed but she continued to hit until he stepped back and then pulled her into his embrace. She tried to push away from him, to jerk free but he just held her to his chest.

“I’m sorry.” He spoke quietly next to her ear. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I’m sorry.”

Finally she found her voice. “You did mean to. It’s all you’ve done since you forced your way into my home. You’ve frightened everyone here into doing what you want. You force and intimidate and…and…”

“Not this time. I did not mean to make you fear me.” He held her away from him, then released her and turned. He lit a candle next to the bed and Cait’s breath caught in her throat. He was naked. She had known it but without the light it had been easy not to think of it. Skin stretched over hard muscle and no softness anywhere. When he faced her, she looked away.

“Look at me. I am man.” He walked closer but she didn’t look. “I can be injured and harmed just as any other. Can’t you see that?”

Finally her gaze drew back to him and then down to the scar on his side. “But you…your eyes….”

“I am a man of the wolf. It is not as uncommon as you might think. I shouldn’t have used it to frighten you.” He planted his hand on the wall next to her head and leaned his weight on that arm. “You just stir me so that I want…your viciousness is alluring.”

“And yours is disgusting.” She was too exhausted to add more sharpness to her words.

“There are men coming here. Men like me, our enemies. They would have torn this place to shreds if we’d not come here and taken it. With access to the loch we can keep them from coming farther north this way. We killed none of your people. Our intention is not to kill the innocent.”

“But you…you beat upon my cousin and forced my father…”

“Your father had dealings with our enemies and had given them permission to come this way. It is why we had to take the castle and set up here.”

Cait shook her head. “My father didn’t know what you were…”

“He knows.”

She shook her head again. No. Her father wouldn’t have left her had he known. They wouldn’t have been able to drag him away. He wouldn’t have left her to marry a beast.

“Your father knows and foolishly thought that if allowed them to use Blaidden they would hold up their end of the bargain. They would not. They would have destroyed this place and every person here.” He blew out a heavy breath. “Now that Blaidden is mine, those that would come here will either do so and be defeated or will keep their distance.”

“Why didn’t you explain that yesterday? Why didn’t you tell us the danger…”

“Because your father already knew. And there was no time to explain anything. I was too busy trying to keep you from mauling me or riding directly into their horde. It is true that we take what we want but we do not wish for the others to destroy everything around us. They would have destroyed this entire island.”

“All of it?” She shook her head.

“All of it. The numbers of our packs are many. It was easy to overtake your castle. It would be just as easy to go from town to town and do the same. That’s exactly what they would have done. From here we can stop them, save your people and keep our enemies from sailing on to our people, our families.”

Cait’s head hurt. It was too much to believe.

“You could have done all of that without a marriage.”

“I could have but I wanted Blaidden,” he said simply. “And when you hit me, I wanted you too.” His lips lifted slightly in the corners. He started to lean forward but Cait lifted her hands to his chest and pushed him back.

“But I do not want you. You forced me into this marriage and…”

“I gave you a choice. And I do believe it was you who struck the deal. I took the castle. You gave yourself to me by choice,” he corrected.

“To save my family.”

“It was still a choice. And I notice your family did not fight for you as you did them. The woman all but threw you at us.” He lifted his free hand and touched her hair. It was odd looking at the ends of her hair between his fingers.

“She was saving Fiona. She isn’t as strong as I am…”

Again he interrupted to correct her. “What have I done to you that required you to be strong? Last night? Despite the harsh words you hurled at me, I was as gentle as I could be.”

Cait frowned. He was right. He could have been rough. He could have left bruises as she’d suspected he would. But he hadn’t.

“You don’t understand. Fiona is more tender than I.”

“I wouldn’t have harmed the girl. Just as I’ve not harmed you. It matters not. I did not want for her. She wept like the other. You looked right at me.” Again he smiled. “I shall give you time to digest everything I’ve told you. You can return to bed now.”

Cait stood there as he stepped aside. He was right. It was much to think about at once. She walked back to the bed and climbed beneath the blankets. He settled beside her and then blew out the candle.

“Why did you explain all that to me?”

“Perhaps to make up for my frightening you so badly,” he answered after a moment.

“I wouldn’t have remained afraid. By morning I would have tried to kill you anyway.” She rolled to her side, back to him. “I was just shocked and didn’t know how to react.” After a moment his turned towards her and draped his arm over her.

***

“It’s been four days and she hasn’t tried to escape at all.” Loegaire almost sounded disappointed.

“I don’t think she will attempt to run again.” Biel settled the stone in place and waited for his brother to spread mortar atop it. He lifted another of the large stones that others were carrying and dropping in a pile outside the wall they were erecting. On the other side Uif added to its strength by attaching timbers held in place by thick wooden slats. Some of the townspeople who’d not fled remained and were finally starting to join the construction of the fortress.

“She has accepted she is your wife?” Loegaire asked as Biel settled the next stone.

“I don’t know. I just know she will not try to run again.” Biel lifted his gaze to find her leading her cousin from the castle. Ewan stood there looking at the wall that almost circled the castle. He surveyed their work for several minutes before looking Biel’s way and then walking forward.

“It isn’t high enough if you mean it to be a defensive wall.” Ewan spoke before he got to them.

“It will be.” Biel answered and lifted another stone.

When he offered no more, Loegaire spoke. “We will build it in two sections. This is the lower and it shall be finished tonight. Then atop it a second will be built. Then we will help those working on the outer wall.” He pointed and Ewan looked at the second wall being constructed several yards out.

“My cousin tells me there is a chance we will be attacked.” Ewan turned his gaze back to Biel. “That is why you took this place. You needn’t have run my uncle from here.”

“Your uncle is not to be trusted.”

“My uncle is a brave man and would not risk his family.”

“Sometimes foolishness makes a person untrustworthy.” Biel accepted the water that one of his men brought to him. He drank deeply and passed it to Loegaire. “It is that foolishness that brought us to this place to begin with.”

“He goes to my father’s home. I should send a message to my father of what has happened and why you and your men are here.” Ewan stepped closer. “I offer this for my cousin’s safety. I would not want her to come to harm when my father and his men come back for me.”

Biel leaned against the wall. “Cait is my wife now. I would not allow her to be harmed. Unlike others, I protect those that are mine. I do not give them up or use them to barter with.” Behind Ewan, Cait remained silent but her gaze darted to his. “Would you Loegaire?”

“I would not.”

“You will allow me to send the message?” Ewan’s irritation was evident.

“You may send whatever message you would like to your father, hopefully warning him not to attack us lest he wishes to meet a swift death. He should only bring his men if he means to defend Blaidden from our enemies.”

“Why should he defend you at all?” Ewan snapped.

“Because I am his niece’s husband. Because this is her home.” Biel crossed his arms.

“That you forcefully took!” Ewan looked ready to leap at him.

“And paid for when your uncle left this place. He carried with him a large enough amount to purchase land and home elsewhere.” He saw Cait’s widened gaze and she stepped forward.

“Why would you do that?” she asked.

Biel didn’t answer and went back to work.

“He did it for you, bonny Cait.” Loegaire said. “You are his wife and he would see that his wife’s family is taken care of.”

Biel said nothing until Ewan and Cait walked back to the castle. “I don’t remember requesting that you explain my behavior.”

“It was for peace of mind.” Loegaire defended himself.

“I did not request that of you either.”

“It might make her think a bit of her situation if she knew that the husband she despises offered her more honor than the family she fought so much for.” Loegaire snapped. “Forgive me for telling her what she should have already been told.”

Biel said nothing else and they finished the wall by nightfall. He ate with his men and then went upstairs to retire. Unlike the nights before, he did not step into a darkened chamber. This night, Cait waited up for him and to his surprise had drawn him a bath.

“Do not think this means anything,” she warned. “I do not wish to suffocate from your stink tonight.”

He grunted as he began removing his clothes. Once naked, he settled in the large basin of water. As he was settled, she moved and reached to collect his things but he reached out and caught her wrist before she could pick up his weapons.

“Afraid I will turn them on you?” Her eyes glittered. “If I meant to do such a thing I’ve had ample opportunity.”

For a moment, Biel did not release her, and then slowly loosened his fingers. She pressed her lips, rolling her eyes, and picked up the weapons, setting them on the table next to the bed.

“Come here, wife.” He watched her look back at him.

“Why?”

“Do not question me. Come here.” He waited. Finally, most likely out of curiosity, she walked to him and stood beside the basin.

“I wish you to wash me.” Again he waited. Would she appease?

“Can you not wash yourself?”

“I’m weary.” He smiled when she made a sound of impatience but lowered to her knees.

“A day’s work and men turn into invalids,” she grumbled reaching for the soap and cloth. “Lean forward lest you wish me to reconsider and cut off your head with your own sword.” He chuckled as he leaned forward. She washed his back, then his hair. When he leaned back, she bent forward running her soapy cloth over his chest, arms, and legs. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back, enjoying the feel of her movements. After rinsing away the soap, her hands grew still but she didn’t move away. A moment later, the cloth dipped beneath the surface and touched his cock.

He hadn’t thought she would. But she bathed all of him. And his body responded. He heard her gasp when he hardened. She started to stand but he reached out and caught her arm as he opened his eyes. Her cheeks were flushed and he could see that her breathing was different.

“You will leave me in this condition? You are a vicious woman, Cait Vard.” He saw her eyes widen as he said her full name. Perhaps she’d not realized his name was hers now.

“I’ve done what you wanted.” She didn’t try to pull away.

“Touch me.” He met her gaze, moments before it darted to his cock. “Touch me, Cait and relieve me.”

Her lips curled and she knelt beside him again but he didn’t release her when she started to bend forward. “Touch me…gently.”

She failed miserably when she tried not to smile. “Perhaps I mean to remove it from your body completely.”

Biel released her arm and tilted his head back again, closing his eyes. “That would be very unfortunate for you since I had not intended on harming you.”

A moment later her fingers slid against him. They wrapped around him and pulled up his length. He groaned in response.

“I do this now for you because of what you did for my family. You gave them money. I appreciate that you did that.” Her palm slid down him again. “It changes nothing between us.”

She was wrong. It changed everything. The pull of her fingers caused his stomach to tighten as arousal coiled inside him. The beast inside of him would not be satisfied. He reached down and closed his hand over hers, tightening her fingers and setting the rhythm.

“Like that.” He released her and allowed her to continue. It wouldn’t take him long and his breathing deepened as his balls tightened. Tension tightened and then suddenly her hand left him. He opened his eyes just as someone rapped on the door.

She rose to her feet but he stood and stepped out of the water. Without covering himself he went to the door and opened it. Loegaire stood there.

“What is it?”

Loegaire grinned at him. “Taking a bath are ye?”

“What is it that you want, brother, or I swear I will crack open your head.” He heard Cait’s chuckle from behind him.

“Well, I can’t find Ewan anywhere and one of the horses is gone.”

“He’s most likely headed to his father’s home and has abandoned her like the rest of her family did. Go and find him and bring him back.” Biel glanced back at Cait. It was obvious she’d heard him but did not respond.

“Will you be coming with us?”

“No, I will not be coming with you.” He closed the door on his brother’s grin.

“You don’t need him. If you gave my father money, the castle belongs to you.” Cait spoke when he faced her.

“I want to keep him here until after I’m certain there will be no attack from our enemies. The last thing I need is him leading an army on us while we’re in the middle of our own fight. Now come here.” When she didn’t move, he stalked forward and she matched every step with one of retreat.

“I heard him walking up the corridor. It’s why I stopped.” Her back bumped against the wall. “I can continue.”

“It’s too late for that now.” He placed both hands on either side of her against the wall.

“It doesn’t look too late.” Her gaze darted down to his hard cock.

“I want in you.” He leaned forward. “Deep in you.”

Cait couldn’t explain the heat that flushed her body in response to his words. Suddenly her clothes felt too tight and the room seemed warmer. She’d touched him as she he wanted, half out of curiosity, half out of gratitude for what he’d done for her family. But when he’d groaned, she couldn’t deny that she liked the way he sounded. Now with his arms on either side of her, he seemed to take up the entire room leaving no air for her to breathe.

“It’s dishonorable for you to even ask this of me.” She tried to fight away her body’s ache. She shouldn’t desire this man. He’d taken her home less than a week before. He’d made her marry him to save her family. He’d admitted he was a wolf. She’d seen his eyes herself. She should hate him.

“I didn’t ask.” He leaned closer.

“You are dripping all over the floor.” She refused to look at him.

“Cait.” He said her name and her gaze lifted to his. Her breath caught. His eyes were full of desire. The planes of his face were flushed and his nose flared. His intensity made her tremble.

“Remove your clothes or I will rip them from your body.”

Her heartbeat accelerated. “What if I tell you it’s not my wish for you to…”

He leaned closer so that he was a breath away from her. “I know it would be a lie. I can see it in your eyes. I can smell it in the air. Take off your clothes.”

Her hands shook as she did as he commanded. When she was nude, he didn’t move away, lowering his gaze over her body. What had she expected when she’d prepared the bath? She’d known this would happen. It was why she’d done it.

“Beautiful,” he whispered and his jaw grazed her cheek as he breathed her in. It was a primitive thing to do. This close and she felt the heat from his body. It made her shiver.

“Spread your legs.”

She obeyed and then gasped when he shifted his weight to one arm and lowered a hand to touch the most intimate part of her. His fingers slipped between her folds and then dipped inside of her.

“You are ready for me.” He leaned back slightly so he could look at her face. “You want me. Say it.”

She shook her head and then sucked in her breath when his palm cupped and pressed against her. When he rocked his finger into her, his hand stimulated her sex. He moved his hand against her. Her body responded to the sensations, nipples hardening. He leaned forward and took one peak between his lips, rolled his tongue around its tip, before sucking fiercely. He applied the same attention to the other.

Cait’s entire body shook with tension. “I want you.” The words tumbled from her lips before she could stop them. Instantly he straightened and grasped her hand. Turning he strode to the bed, pulling her with him. He laid her on her back and then crawled atop her, settling between her thighs.

One quick thrust and Cait arched into him. The intrusion felt good. She reached forward to grasp his shoulders as he pulled and then thrust again. With every rock of his hips, he made a sound in his throat that was half groan, half growl. It sent hot shivers over her body.

He leaned forward and kissed her as his cock plunged into her, one hand sliding between them to pluck at her nipples. Passion swept over her and she pulled at his shoulders for more, nails biting into his skin. He sucked air through his teeth as he broke their kiss and hovered above her.

Cait realized he liked the roughness. She remembered when she’d bit at him how he’d told her it aroused him. Now she leaned up and nibbled at his jaw. When she moved her lips to his shoulder and applied more pressure, his hips jerked forward. Cait was assaulted with the heady thrill of control. She dragged her nails over his shoulders to his chest and then bit again.

“Stop or so help me I shall lose myself in you,” he murmured, for once that strong baritone voice sounding desperate. She bit him again and when he looked down at her, his eyes were yellowed. At first it frightened her but when his hips began rocking into her, thrusting forcefully, she didn’t care what color his eyes would turn next.

He rode her urgently and she lifted her knees to his waist, offering him more of her. And he took it. He was like something of nature, wild and unkempt, his long hair hanging down around them both while those yellow eyes bore into her. Her tension broke and pleasure exploded, reached from her sex out into her limbs until she shook beneath its force.

He joined her rapture a moment later, thrusting deep, his cock convulsing within her while he threw his head back and bared his teeth. He stilled momentarily before falling forward, his weight on his arms at either side of her. Silence filled the room, broken only by their heavy breaths.

Slowly, the yellow dimmed and disappeared from his eyes. “You weaken me woman,” he finally rasped. Weakened? He was anything but weak. He’d been strong and dominating and it had made her behave more beastly than he.

Finally he pulled from within her and rolled over to lie beside her. She stretched, enjoying the warmth that pulled in her limbs. When she looked at him, he’d tucked one arm behind his head. He slipped the other beneath her and curled her to him.

“You push me to lose myself completely to the wolf.”

“You said you can take the wolf’s form. Have you ever done so when you’ve lain with a woman?” Cait asked, breathing out in relief when he shook his head.

“No but sometimes there can be changes.”

“Like your eyes.”

“Aye. I do not want to frighten you again.” He turned his head so he could kiss the top of her head. “Keep your nails and teeth away from me. You make it so I have no control and the wolf inside me drives me by impulse.”

“What does it feel like when you lose control, when the wolf takes you over?”

“Freedom,” he murmured. “So much pleasure that I feel consumed by it.”

That is how she’d felt just moments before. “But you never become the wolf.”

“Sometimes in battle it happens. It’s different when with a woman. Normally we only change by will.” He pulled his arm from beneath her and sat up. “Stay here. Rest. I shall return once Ewan is secured in the castle.”

“I’m already half asleep.” She closed her eyes and then smiled when his lips brushed hers momentarily.

Chapter 3

With both defense walls completed, the men now turned their attention to the castle itself. Cait watched the men work, taking them water when they looked to be getting weary. Much had changed for her in the last five days. At first she was angry at those she watched fortify the castle. Now she was angrier at her own family. As much as she didn’t like it, Biel was right. They had abandoned her. All of them. Now these men, strangers, worked to protect her, her home, and their family in ways hers had never thought to do.

And they were wolves. Or of the wolf. How odd that she could come to accept that so easily. Her gaze drifted to Biel. He was their leader. He was her husband. Her body warmed for him each time she looked at him. He was dominant and even bullying at times but he did not leave her powerless. He never had. He’d allowed her to fight back, to strike out at him when other men would have beaten her. He’d given her choices, though difficult, as if testing her strength.

She took the water to her husband and when he accepted and drank, she reached out and touched his shoulder. Long had he shed his tunic, exposing his deep chest to the sun. She’d watched him, marveling at the muscle she now ran her nails across.

His head snapped around and those blue eyes narrowed on her. “Where is your cousin?”

“I have him scrubbing the floors in the kitchen. One of your brothers is watching him.” She dragged her nails over his skin again then took the water and held it out to Loegaire. He accepted it with his usual easy smile and drank deeply.

“And what are you doing while I work?” Biel demanded.

She slanted her gaze back at him and smiled. “Watching you work.” She purposely allowed her gaze drop to his chest, then lower to his stomach. “Wondering how beastly a smell you will drag into my bed tonight so that I might suffocate.” Loegaire laughed aloud passing the water back to Biel.

“Would you ask I spend the day plucking wildflowers so I do not offend your delicate senses and give you only a home that could not keep a sheep from barging in its doors?” Biel asked.

“I’ve asked nothing at all of you, husband.” She reached for the water flask but he held it back so she had to reach farther. “Now you are only being cruel. I think you mean to anger me. Unless you wish me to bite you again I insist you find a more appeasing mood.”

Loegaire laughed again but Biel’s gaze darkened slightly. She knew very well that the mere mention of biting him aroused him. She became aware that his brothers had stopped their work and were watching them now.

“Perhaps my wife will oblige me by remaining inside and reserving her games for private exchange.” Biel’s hand wrapped around her waist and he pulled her forward, against him. “For as you can see, my brothers and I are close. The wolf binds us closer than any other siblings. They feel what I feel as I can detect their arousals as well.”

Cait’s head snapped around to Loegaire with sudden realization. “You scoundrel! That is why you encouraged me to fight against your brother! I thought all along that perhaps you’d taken pity, perhaps even liked me, and now I find you only fed your own lusts!”

Loegaire’s grin twisted. “I do like you, bonny Cait. We all do.”

Cait looked back at Biel and pushed at his chest but he didn’t release her. “You could have told me.”

“Aye I could have.” He leaned down and spoke into her ear. “I could do a great many things, wife. I do not to save you humiliation and to protect your privacy.”

Cait turned her head to stare up at him. How could he make her heart race like this with just a drop of his voice?

“I don’t understand.”

“My brothers and I share everything.” His gaze met hers directly.

Cait gasped. “But Uif has a wife!”

“And we’ve all had her.” Biel didn’t look away. “Now do you understand?”

He released her and handed her the flask of water. She just stood there numbly looking at him as he turned and went back to work. Her gaze darted around to the brothers that worked alongside him. Each time she became accustomed to something he told her, she learned something new. Her attention rested on Loegaire until he looked at her. Then she turned and hurried back to the castle.

Biel found her hours later in the stables, brushing down his horse. “Thinking of trying to steal him and escape again?” He asked and leaned against the wall next to the stall.

“Do you mean to share me with your brothers?” She faced him after a moment of silence.

He sighed heavily. “I mean to tell you what you need to know so that you may live as you wish, Cait.”

“When we are together, they feel it too?” she asked.

“They do.” He nodded.

“Then I’ve no privacy at all.” She turned back to the horse. “They might as well be standing in the room watching.”

“If you like.” Biel grinned when she made a noise. “It is something that cannot be helped. Our energies are connected by the wolf. You felt my energy when we came together didn’t you? It felt as if we were surrounded by heat as strong as a storm on the water. I know you felt it.”

“But that was us.”

“They felt it too that night. And had they been there in the room, their energies would have joined ours. It intensifies the effects.” He held up a hand before she could speak. “I do not need you to lay with them, Cait. That is your choice, not mine. I only tell you so you know how it is with me and them.”

Cait frowned. She was an outsider. Not really one of them. She was only Biel’s wife. Just as she’d only been only her father’s first daughter.

“I have upset you.” He reached over the wall and touched her arm but she shook her head.

“I am not upset.”

Biel slowly walked around and stepped into the stall, reaching for her and bringing her to him. “You are upset. You look as if you might burst into tears any moment.”

“It’s just…so muc

Date: 2015-01-29; view: 930