Beguiled (The Fairest Maidens #2) - Jody Hedlund Page 0,28
it.”
Had she read my thoughts and guessed the difficulties we would face upon returning to Scania? And should I seriously consider her offer? It would make my life easier. And yet, I’d been taught never to make promises I couldn’t keep.
“I made vows to both you and Irontooth this night, and I shall not break my word.”
“You were coerced.”
“I had a choice.” One always had a choice, and I’d made mine.
“I shall still give you an annulment.”
“And I shall not accept it.”
“You must know I do not wish to have a real marriage.” She said the words bravely but stared into the fire, refusing to look at me.
“Of course. We shall remain chaste.” For now. But I didn’t say that. If I became king, I would eventually need to produce an heir. As royalty herself, she would understand such a responsibility. However, I wouldn’t trouble myself about that at the moment. At present, it was enough that we could remain civil to each other.
She seemed satisfied with my answer and our truce. “Would you like the pallet or the bearskin blanket?”
“You choose your preference. I shall be satisfied with either.”
A few minutes later, we were both lying down on either side of the fire, I upon the pallet and she upon the blanket. She lifted her hands to her veil as though to remove it. But at the sight of my eyes upon her, she turned on her side so she was facing away from the fire.
I studied her outline a moment longer. Look on the heart. Though I’d attempted to do so all along with everyone I met on the island, now I had a bigger challenge—to look on the heart of my wife.
My wife. The thought pulsed through me with sluggish trepidation. Never in all my planning had I expected to end up married on the Isle of Outcasts. But here I was, with a wife. No matter how she might feel about our marriage, I was determined to make the best of it. And in some ways, that might end up being the biggest challenge of all.
Chapter
10
Pearl
“We don’t need to fight with Blade,” Mikkel whispered from where he crouched on the rock ledge beside me.
“We are defending ourselves. Not fighting.” I peered down into the gorge, searching for any sign of Blade’s men creeping up the river path.
“We would all fare better if we worked together,” Mikkel said, as he already had on several occasions. “We would be stronger if we put aside our problems and united.”
“We are strong enough,” I retorted, my bowstring touching my shoulder and my arrow notched.
He was silent for a moment before whispering again. “This is no place for a woman.”
“I can fend for myself.”
“I am quite aware of that.”
Was he thinking back to the day I’d captured him during his fishing expedition? I’d proven my capability then. And he’d seen me training at camp, had even sparred with me from time to time.
“I’d feel better if you were well away from here and safely back at camp.”
“I am not going back.” We’d argued about my presence in the expedition since leaving camp, and I refused to heed his admonition.
He shook his head, his hair gleaming like gold in the afternoon sunlight and his eyes reflecting the light-blue sky overhead. Though his hair and eyes were fair and beautiful, his features were hardened into granite, his knife in one hand and his spear in the other. The layer of scruff on his chin and jaw had grown thick but only made him all the more handsome.
His appearance was something I couldn’t keep from noticing, especially because Irontooth had commanded us to spend every waking and sleeping hour together over the past fortnight since our wedding.
Though I tried not to look at or think about Mikkel, he was undeniably attractive and drew my attention regardless. I loathed myself for my weakness, particularly those times when he caught me staring. Like now.
As if he’d felt my examination, he slanted a sideways glance at me.
I shot my attention to the gully below. “The exchange of prisoners is always tense.”
“It doesn’t have to be.”
“They will not understand why we are only returning Fowler and why you and Gregor are staying with us.”
“I’ll go down and explain it myself.”
“If you get anywhere near them, they may take you back regardless of your wishes.” Or maybe he would run at the chance to rejoin the other group and escape this marriage that had been foisted upon him.