Claimed by the Viking Chief by Sarah Rodi

Author:Sarah Rodi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-03-03T13:32:20+00:00

* * *

‘I thought I’d find you here.’

Wren rubbed her eyes, knowing they must be red and puffy, her face streaked with tears, and she suddenly felt vulnerable and exposed. She prided herself on being tough—she had never let anyone see her cry before.

Knud came and knelt down before her and reached out to take her chin in his fingers. ‘Are you all right?’

She shrugged. Her chin quivered with the effort of keeping in her tears and she nodded, sitting up on her hip, her legs curled out behind her. ‘You’d think...you’d think she’d be at least a little grateful, for my—our—help.’

‘She should be most grateful.’

‘I saved her because I wanted to. Because it was the right thing to do. But you were right. I thought... I began to hope, somewhere deep down, the further we went on, that because I saved her life, she might save mine by setting me free. Instead, I’ll probably be punished now for speaking out against her...’

‘Not if I can help it. I’ll talk to her.’

‘Why would you do that?’

He took a strand of her hair in his fingers, tucking it behind her ear. ‘We’re a team, aren’t we?’

She stared up into his eyes, seeking some of his strength. A team. She liked the sound of that.

‘I feel like the last few days I was given a taste of freedom—only to be caught and imprisoned again. And now her harsh words seem so much worse than before. They really hurt me.’

‘I understand.’ He took her hand loosely in his. ‘I think we were all shocked by the way Earl Ingrid behaved in there. But she’s returned to bed now—Brita said she’s asleep. Won’t you come back to the longhouse?’

She shook her head.

‘We were having fun back there, weren’t we? With all my people. Everyone in that hall was on your side.’

She shrugged a slim shoulder. ‘I suppose I hoped I could earn people’s respect.’

‘You have. Not many people would have stayed behind to help your ruler like you did, Wren. Not many people would have made that journey to try to save her, let alone survived it. Everyone is in awe of you.’

‘You did. Perhaps you shouldn’t have stayed behind to look after her after all,’ she said bitterly.

‘I didn’t,’ he admitted. ‘You saved her—and I stayed behind in Boer for you.’

‘What?’ She shook her head a little, not understanding.

His thumb stroked over the top of her hand. ‘On the battlefield. I knew I needed to help Earl Ingrid, but I wanted to stay for you.’

She swallowed. Her feelings were bubbling right beneath the surface tonight, like a hot spring ready to erupt. Perhaps she was tired from the long journey. Or perhaps it had everything to do with the man in front of her, making her feel things more deeply...

‘Me? Why?’

‘I told you,’ he said, lowering his head, holding her gaze. ‘I wanted to kiss you from the moment I first saw you. I felt this compulsion to rescue you. I still do.’

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