The King's Executioner by Donna Fletcher

Author:Donna Fletcher [Fletcher, Donna]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Picts, USA Today Bestselling Author, Historical Romance
Publisher: Donna Fletcher
Published: 2016-04-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Anin wondered why Pain had a length of rope looped over his shoulder. She found out when they reached the top of the rise where they had looked down and first seen the Wyse settlement. It was visible no more.

“The King will be pleased that his future Queen met with the Wyse Tribe,” Paine said and slipped the rope off his shoulder.

Anin had the urge to take a step away from him. “What is the rope for?”

With deft hands, he worked on the rope. “To tether you to me.”

“That is not necessary.”

“After the wolves almost tore you apart, I told you I would not waste words of warning on you again.” He held up the rope. “Now you will have no choice but to do as I say.”

Anin stumbled back away from him. “That is a hangman’s loop.”

“It will fit perfectly around your waist. Now come here to me.”

Any other time he would have ordered her to come to him she would have done so without hesitation, but the hangman’s loop made her think twice.

Paine did not like the worried look in her eyes. Did she truly believe he would harm her? Was it not better for them both if she finally doubted him, finally saw him for who he truly was?

He held the deadly loop up, shaking it at her. “You are lucky I am not slipping it around your neck and tether you as I do prisoners.”

“You would never—”

Paine rushed at her, grabbing arm so that she could not move away from him. “Never be foolish enough to think I would not do what was necessary or commanded to do.”

Anin cringed when he slipped the rope over her head and it brushed her neck as he spread the loop wider to push past her shoulders.

“Lift your arms,” he ordered.

She did as told and he settled the rope around her waist. His actions and words frightened her and she quickly laid a hand on his arm as he pushed the knot tight against her waist. She shivered at the dark emptiness she felt within him. It was what she had felt when she first met him. She gripped his arm tighter, fighting to get through the emptiness, fighting to find what she had felt several times before that he cared for her more deeply than she thought any man ever could.

“Paine,” she whispered and the emptiness began to fade and beneath it she could feel tender warmth and—he yanked his arm away.

“Never touch me again,” he said, though it sounded more like Bog’s snarl. “I have been too lenient with you, but no more.”

“Which is it you truly fear, keeping me close or keeping me at a distance? Or is it both?”

Either way he would suffer. Keeping her close would bring the King’s wrath down upon him and keeping her at a distance meant he would never have her. That she understood meant she was aware of his lies, but then she had been aware of his lies at the pond as well.

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