But she knew that he desired her. It was the only weapon she had, and she wondered if she dared to use it. Could she convince him to let go of his anger and need for revenge? Was there any way to change his mind?
A voice inside warned that there was no means of stopping a warrior like Alarr. He would never forgive her foster father for killing his family.
She had so many questions rising up inside. Why would Feann do such a thing, if it were true? There had to be a strong reason. And if Alarr confronted him, he risked his own life. As she studied his profile, she wondered how she would feel if he were to die.
Alarr had rescued her, saving her life when she had needed him most. And beneath his fierce exterior, she sensed that he was a man of honour. He could have forced himself upon her at any moment; yet, he had not. He had awakened her own hunger with his touch, and she had only found pleasure in his arms. But would he listen to her pleas? Or would her feelings mean nothing at all to him? She needed to know more.
‘Will you tell me what happened?’ she asked quietly. ‘On the day of your wedding.’
He came to sit beside her. Without answer, he countered, ‘Will you tell me of Feann’s defences or how to get close to him?’
‘No.’ Breanne drew her knees up, staring at the water. ‘I cannot betray him. He is the only father I’ve ever known.’
‘He is not the man you think he is,’ Alarr said. ‘He travelled across the sea with his men and attacked for no reason.’
‘He would not have sailed such a distance, if it were not important. That is not his way. Perhaps he was seeking his own vengeance.’
‘Sigurd did nothing to him. Their kingdoms are a great distance apart.’
She didn’t know the reasons either, but she felt the need to voice another truth. ‘Feann was not the man to murder your father. You know this.’
‘I blame him, even so. It was his men who surrounded the longhouse and killed everyone inside, including my father and my bride.’
Her heart ached for him, and she fought back the tears that threatened. She couldn’t understand how any of this could have happened.
His voice was heavy, laced with bitterness. ‘Then they scattered and went to their ships. Any man who pursued them was cut down and left to die. I lost many kinsmen that day.’
She tightened her grasp around her knees, trying to sort out her foster father’s actions. ‘That doesn’t sound like something Feann would do.’
‘He did. And he will pay for the deaths he and his men caused. Whether he wielded the blade or not.’
Her heart was pounding, and she knew not what to say or how to stop him. Right now, he was only thinking of vengeance and not what would happen afterwards. She wanted to protect her foster father, but she knew that Alarr would never set aside his plans.
To stall him, she decided to ask more questions. ‘How did they attack you?’
‘They stood among the wedding guests. Our men were unarmed during the wedding. It was not a fair fight.’
‘Why were they unarmed?’ Breanne asked, frowning. ‘They are Lochlannach warriors, are they not?’
Alarr stiffened at her question. ‘My mother demanded it.’
‘Now why would she do that?’ It made no sense for warriors to be unable to protect themselves.
‘She claimed it would anger the gods.’ But as soon as he spoke the words, she could see the realisation dawning upon him. He knew, without her saying a word, what she was implying.
But Breanne questioned it, none the less. ‘Did your mother have a reason to want your father dead?’
‘I don’t know.’ There was so much anger rising within him, it seemed that his temper would burst forth at any moment. She didn’t press further, but instead, touched his shoulder gently. His muscles were rigid beneath her hands. Without asking, she massaged the tension from him.
She didn’t know why she was touching him. He was her enemy, a man who wanted her foster father dead. But the question now was whether she could turn him away from his desire for vengeance.
She slid her hands to his neck, gently stroking the knots. Instead of granting him relief from his pain, he caught her hands and held them.
‘This wasn’t why I brought you here,’ he said. ‘Much as I do want your hands upon me.’
She could hear the edge of pent-up desire in his voice, and the heat of his palms against hers only evoked her own interest. She could not stop thinking of last night, and her cheeks burned at the memory.
‘Why did you bring me here?’ she asked.
He released her hands and faced her. ‘To give you a choice. You helped save my brother’s life. If it is your wish not to be there when I face Feann, I could leave you behind.’
She frowned, not understanding his intention. ‘Then how would they allow you inside the gates?’
‘Rurik and I would break in, and I would challenge the king.’
She shook her head. ‘There is no means of getting inside without me. There are no weaknesses in the fortress. The walls are guarded day and night to make sure of it.’
But his offer made her pause. If he intended to breach the walls alone, he would die. She had no doubt of it. ‘Will you not hear what my foster father has to say?’ she asked. ‘It may be that there were other reasons for the attack.’
‘Innocent men and women died that day. I will not forget their deaths or my vengeance.’
For a long moment, Breanne stared out at the sea, turning over the problem in her mind. Her foster father had caused Alarr’s injuries and the loss of his loved ones. But the
