She stared hard at him. ‘And you didn’t think you should send other men to search for me?’ Her irritation heightened at his lack of effort, though she realised that it was possible Feann hadn’t known she was a captive—especially if he had been travelling. The flames flared against the peat bricks, a bright orange colour against the night sky.
‘We should have,’ he confessed. ‘But then, Styr Hardrata sent word to Killcobar that you were at the Lochlannach settlement.’ His expression turned guilty, and he said, ‘I am sorry you felt abandoned, my lady. That was never our intention.’
She supposed she ought to feel relieved that soldiers had come to bring her home at last. But instead, she was starting to question all that had happened. Alarr had openly admitted that he didn’t trust Feann’s men, so why should she? Moreover, was it possible that one or more of them had conspired with the man who had sold her into slavery? For what purpose? She didn’t believe Darin would do such a thing, but it made her wonder whom she could trust.
She had once believed she could trust Alarr. And yet, he had let her go.
Her heart gave a curious ache at the thought, and it made her suddenly think of his desire for revenge. Where was Alarr now, and was he still searching for Feann? She was afraid to imagine his intentions, and no matter what she said or did, she could not stop him. There was no choice but to warn her foster father.
Darin’s face was shadowed, and he seemed preoccupied by something. He stood, walking towards the edge of the forest. Once again, his attention seemed to be elsewhere, and she could not guess why. It was almost as if he were waiting for something. Or that he had sensed someone approaching. Soon enough, Breanne heard the sound of a horse, and Darin went towards the clearing, reaching for his sword. He spoke quietly to his men, and all went on alert. Breanne couldn’t say whether there was truly a threat, but her instincts warned her to hide. She backed away into the shadow of the trees, wondering if she was foolish for doing so.
A twig snapped from behind her, and she spun.
‘Are you well?’ came a low voice from the shadows.
Breanne bit back her surprise and suppressed a curse. ‘Alarr?’ He moved closer, and her mood tensed at the sight of him. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I followed you to ensure that you were safe. I don’t trust these men.’
‘You don’t trust anyone,’ she pointed out. Though she ought to be irritated that he had tracked her, another part of her was startled that he would care. And despite her better judgement, she warmed to it.
He didn’t argue with her but reached for her hand. His palm was warm, callused from fighting. She remembered the sensation of those fingers trailing over her skin, and she could not deny the thrill of memory.
When she walked back towards the campsite, he kept her hand in his, and she saw Rurik holding a sword and shield, staring at the captain and his men. Though he hadn’t provoked a fight, it was clear that he was diverting their attention.
‘Darin,’ Breanne said.
He kept his weapon in hand as he turned back to her. When he saw her holding Alarr’s hand, he froze and waited for her command. ‘My lady, do you want me to send them away or let them stay?’
‘It wouldn’t matter, even if I did want them to go. Alarr would not leave.’ Even so, her heart gave a sudden thrill of anticipation. She was unaccustomed to being followed, and she didn’t know whether to be flattered or frustrated. ‘They can stay.’ To Rurik, she said, ‘You may set up your camp over there.’
She wanted to maintain a distance between them to guard her wayward feelings. Alarr kept her hand in his, and his thumb was drawing lazy circles over her palm. The simple touch went deeper than she’d imagined, and she could feel the echo of the caress in other places.
‘You didn’t just follow me to ensure my safety,’ she murmured. ‘There was another reason.’ Her brain warned her to strengthen the walls around her feelings. He is using you. It wasn’t wise to imagine that he wanted her for anything other than to get close to Feann.
He leaned in close so that she could feel his breath against her ear. ‘You are still mine, Breanne.’
Her mouth went dry, and she felt her restlessness brewing. Alarr gazed at her with undisguised interest, and every memory of his touch came back to her. She remembered the feeling of his heavy body pressed above hers, and the way she had melted into him.
But those memories wouldn’t change the rift between them. She let go of his hand, rebuilding her self-defences. She could not trust this man, despite how he had already saved her life. Alarr had already admitted that he would not set aside his vengeance for her. And how could she care for a man who wanted to hurt someone she loved? It was impossible. The thoughts burdened her, making her wish she could simply lock her heart away.
The ache of regret weighed upon her, for she had let herself long for someone she couldn’t have. He doesn’t want you. No one did, it seemed. And it was hard to push back the loneliness when she had never had any true family or loved ones. Feann was the only person to show her kindness, and even he had abandoned her.
She needed to find the strength to live her own life
