She looked at me, signing, “Are you alright?”
“Yes.” I went to stand. “Just some pains in my stomach.”
Kane was by my side before I could fully stand. “Auri… please…”
The pain in his eyes and in his voice pushed me back down alone. “I’m fine. It’s probably just my body adjusting to all of our… activity.” I blushed at that description.
Sarah stepped up by us and scanned me over, signing faster than I had seen her in Kane’s direction, “What does she need? Is she ill? I can help. Should I go with you?”
Granted, her sentences were a bit broken, but she was able to get her point across to at least me. Kane on the other hand? Not so much.
His brows furrowed, and he looked to me. “What did she say?”
“She wants to know if I’m sick and if she’s coming with us,” I translated.
She nods, agreeing with me.
“No,” his response was decisive. “We cannot risk more people coming. But as her handmaiden, you will need to be prepared for her return to assist her then.”
Her eyes went wide as her hands moved fast. “Me? I am hers? Thank you!”
Now, I knew that this was an odd conversation to have. My earthly ways of modern days cringed at this. He was gifting me this woman to serve me. But I knew what it meant for both of them.
Working to set the stigma aside in my mind, I smiled. “Is she not your most favored servant?”
He pushed my hair back off my shoulder. “Yes. But most of what I have needed her for in the past have been trivial things. She is best employed where she is needed, and you two seem to have a bond. I am sure her attentiveness will be better suited with you.”
“Thank you.” My smile was almost as big as Sarah’s as she stood, almost giddily fidgeting.
He kissed my forehead. “I want the best for you. And in that venture, I need to speak to Dorian.” He goes for the door.
Expecting him to follow, I was surprised when I saw Wulfgar pause and open his mouth like he was about to say something. But nothing came out. Instead, he closed his lips, nodded curtly to her and turned, following Kane out of the room, closing the door behind them. The redness stained Sarah’s cheeks again, and she tried to duck her face away from me as she went to get my clothing to replace the sheet I’d draped over me.
“Sarah?”
She shook her head as if she didn’t want me to press the issue.
“Sarah…” I cleared my throat.
Her head tilted back, and she let out a sign. Whipping around, her hands flew to her chest, and she sighed again, only this time, it was something else. Not frustration but a dreamy-like quality to her expression.
“You like him?” I asked.
The idea wasn’t farfetched. Wulfgar was a handsome fierce warrior and a strong protector, not to mention, he had the favor of the king. I could see why any woman would find him alluring in one way or another. But seeing her reaction? I knew she was smitten.
She slowly nodded a yes.
Then, we both started giggling.
“He likes you, too.” I nodded to the door.
Her brows knitted together as she shook her head no.
“Well? We shall see. If he’s my guard, and you’re my handmaiden, you two will cross paths often, I’m sure.”
She shrugged. Her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red as she scooped up my things and brought them to me on the bed, setting them down before going and pulling a case from one of the closets and beginning to fill it with more clothing and essentials.
I decided not to press it further. I’d felt that Wulfgar had, indeed, sparked at the sight of Sarah, just as she did with him. But when he went to talk to her, something blanketed that spark, and he jerked back emotionally. I could only imagine that it was the memory of his lost love. And my heart sank for him. My heart sank for them both. A part of me wanted him to overcome it and for them both to find love. I knew only time would tell.
Chapter
Eleven
Dragon
The carriage that Kane had chosen for me to ride in was luxurious. Velvet seats that were not just beautiful but comfortable as well. A bed sat in the back with thick drapes that provided privacy. Food and water readily available.
He’d explained that it had been spelled to ride more gentile, smoother. I was grateful since, while it had eased, my body knew something was different. And by the look in his eyes, so did Kane. The smoothness of the ride over the rough terrain and the three portals we had passed through was more than appreciated. I made a mental note to thank him personally later, a thought that brought a blush to my cheek.
His men had been briefed on our purpose as much as they needed to know. And he had chosen to ride his horse as we started instead of inside the carriage with me, stating that he wanted to be sure that all was well and in line with those that were accompanying us.
His thoroughness of the situation, while it should have been comforting, set me on edge. I’d spent most of my life avoiding a possible deadly force – my family. Now, in another world, it seemed like I was surrounded by a multitude of them. And Kane’s rigid military style reaction to it all concerned me that there was so much more out here.
When the carriage slowed to stop, I had been dozing in and
