Anger was manageable. Anger was something he could hold on to and use against the world. It beat the vulnerability of doubt, so he held on to it tighter. He held on to that anger and allowed it to fuel his determination. He would find the killers and afterwards perhaps they could all find a way to help restore Brandt to his rightful place. Nothing mattered but that.
Annis shifted, one leg stretching out on the bed as she slowly started to come awake. Her foot peeked out from beneath the blanket and then a trim ankle, followed by a shapely calf, firm with muscle. Desire flooded him, warring with the anger for control. They threatened to mingle and become something he did not understand. But then she made a soft sound in the back of her throat. A sound that meant she was waking up. A sound that fascinated him. He wanted to hear it again, wanted to hear all her sounds.
Her eyelashes fluttered and she opened her eyes. To his amazement, a smile gently lit her face as she set her gaze on him. That smile softened him, taking his anger and engulfing it in the soothing embrace of hope and warmth until it was little more than an afterthought. A slow burn beneath the surface of his skin that could be attended to later.
He might have started to respond. His mouth might have turned upwards in a smile, but he could not be certain. Before he could even think, she remembered who he was and where they were and sat up with a sheepish expression on her face, pulling her leg back beneath the blanket.
‘Do not worry.’ He smirked at her. ‘I kept my hands to myself.’ He rattled the chain against the wood of the headboard for extra effect, wincing at the pain that shot through his deadened arms. It worked and she did a very bad job of hiding a grin while huffing out a breath as she swung her legs over the side of the bed.
‘Good morning, Rurik.’
His greedy eyes took in the vivid length of her hair and the soft curve of her hip as she leaned down to put her shoes on. As strange as it seemed, he was sorry to see their night end. Gaining her feet, she started to walk towards the door, but his voice halted her.
‘You will not leave me here like this all day, will you?’
She glanced at him, her eyes dropped in a hint of shyness before she gathered her reserves and met his gaze full on. She was as fascinated by him as he was by her. That subtle move proved it. His breath caught in his throat when she took a few steps towards him. It was a depraved thought, but he wanted her to peel back the blanket and crawl into the bed with him. Perhaps a few hours would be enough to slake this wild desire he felt for her. He was almost willing to give it a try, even if she was supposed to be his enemy.
‘I will send Alder to release your restraints. You can have the freedom of this chamber, but you will not be allowed outside it.’
‘And when will you grant me another audience with Wilfrid?’
She took in a wary breath and chewed the inside of her bottom lip as if she was thinking of the best way to deny him.
‘I will have the names of the assassins before I leave here,’ he warned.
‘I do not know. Last night was straining for him. I imagine rest will be best for him today,’ she said, but there was a hesitance in her tone that put him on guard.
‘Tonight, then.’ It was more demand than request.
‘I will let you know after I have seen him today. It will not do to overexert him.’ She turned swiftly as if she did not wish to discuss it any longer. He watched her leave and for the first time he wondered if there was something she was not telling him.
Chapter Twelve
‘You spent the night with him?’ Cedric had barely waited for her to settle herself at the table before he asked the question.
Despite his harsh tone, the smile on Annis’s face refused to fade away. What should have been a very strange night, and had been in many respects, had not resulted in her losing any sleep. If anything, she had slept very soundly, better than she had since they had learned the Norseman was in the village asking questions.
‘Good morning, Cedric. How is Wilfrid this morning?’
‘He is overly tired. He was awake much of the night. Last evening was a task for him.’
She nodded. Those details were what she had expected. Wilfrid rarely joined them for their meals any more and, when he did, he usually took to his bed the next day. Last night would have proven even more trying for him, especially since Rurik had decided to break the news about Maerr. Any bit of upset seemed to send Wilfrid into a decline that took him several days to overcome.
She waited for the serving girl to fill her cup, before she said, ‘Thank you, Leofe. You may leave us alone now.’ She had no desire to have this discussion before the servants. They must all be talking as it was.
The girl gave her a nod and set her pitcher down among the others before taking her leave. Cedric heaved an impatient sigh as he waited, though Annis assumed the sigh was meant for her and not the girl. When the
