CHAPTER TWELVE
Thora noted that after only a few unsteady steps, Kata slowed. The wolf tired and would need to be carried the last distance to the cave. She turned to Ari. As always, a shiver passed along her spine when their eyes met. She ignored it. Or tried to.
"Can you carry her now?"
He nodded curtly and bent to scoop the animal into his arms.
"Careful, her wound –"
"I know."
His cold tone left her confused. His gaze still held the usual heat and intensity but something seemed more ominous than before. Her heart seemed to skip a beat. What could possibly have angered him now?
"I'll set some furs for her to lay on."
She turned to the packs beside the pulka and pulled out two furs.
She darted into the cave just before Ari, quickly spreading the pelts along one wall of the cave.
Ari elbowed her away and slowly lowered the wolf to the pallet, Kati at his side.
Once again, Thora found herself wondering how he had earned her wolf's loyalty so quickly.
Had it really only been three days since Ari had saved her?
It seemed an eternity, as if she'd never known a time without him.
That feeling could not be good.
When he turned to face her, she had the strange urge to look away. She didn't. "Thank you."
"You'll thank me properly later, ástin minn."
His low husked words once again stirred a shiver Thora fought to suppress. When would the fierce need for him wane? She turned away, kneeling beside Kata. She stroked the animal's fur, pleased when the she-wolf turned to lick her hand.
"I'll send Kati to hunt for you."
"I'll take him with me."
Ari's voice shattered the semblance of calm she'd managed to summon.
Her fingers tightened in the wolf's fur, but Kata gave no protest. Resting her head briefly against her pet's, Thora forced her grip to loosen and turned.
She gave a prayer of thanks to Freyr for leaving her with enough wits to stifle her surprised gasp.
Ari stood over her, silhouetted by the light of the now blazing fire behind him.
She couldn't see his eyes, but the sense of being a hare cornered by her wolves drew a shudder she had no hope of suppressing.
Despite her shaky knees, she stood, letting loose a sigh of relief as she faced him on more even footing.
"Where will you go?" She forced a layer of ice into her tone, oddly delighted at the way one of his eyebrows arched, his eyes a sparkling blue laced with humor.
A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
She sensed he mocked her attempt to appear uninterested in his plans and though she should be angry, she detected no malice.
Or did she only try to convince herself?
"Where I need to. I won't be gone long."
A heavy silence hung between them, the only sound from the crackling flames that nearly echoed like thunder in the cave.
A half-breath later, his mouth crashed onto hers, devouring her with lips and tongue.
She leaned into him, fingers curling into his tunic, the heat of passion making it almost impossible to retain her stance.
His arms came around her, hauling her tight against his chest. Already her sex ached for him, wanting to be filled.
Slick fire coated her insides and she responded eagerly to his demanding kiss.
Just as suddenly as it began, Ari broke the kiss and let her go. She swayed for a moment, stunned by his abrupt release, before composing herself. She smoothed her shaking hands against her dress.
"Don't take too long. I will prepare to cook your catch."
Again, he looked as if he might smile, but the twitch of his lips went no further. Instead he turned, snapping his fingers toward Kati, who fell into step beside him. Together they left the cave and vanished into the forest.
Thora looked down at the she-wolf resting on her bed. "They have banded against us, Kata. We must protect ourselves."
The wolf leaned up and licked Thora's hand. She smiled then forced the last remnants of hazy desire from her thoughts. She had much to do.
She stepped out of the cave, searching the ground.
There, a cluster of fallen branches looked to have what she needed.
She selected three of the sturdiest, all about the same size and returned to their packs.
It took her three trips to haul Ari's large pouches and the branches into the cave, but finally all their belongings were safe inside.
e had chosen well, much as she hated to admit it, even to herself.
She sighed and opened one of his pouches.
It didn't take long before she found some rope and a small iron pot.
As she rummaged further, she found more necessary tools, including a large wooden spoon.
Once more, she wondered why he traveled so long and alone.
He'd equipped himself with the needs of a man on a quest. Again she wondered what sort of quest. If only he would answer her questions.
Those answers would come, she vowed. In the meantime, she had to continue to earn his trust so he would be more likely to reveal his secrets.
Determined not to let thoughts of him consume her entire focus, she turned her attention to the three branches.
In minutes, using the rope she'd taken from his pack, she'd made a secure brace that fit over the stones encircling the fire and would hold the iron pot.
Once more rummaging through Ari's pack, she pulled out a small bucket.
Water from the stream soon filled the bucket and Thora poured it into the pot.
Keeping her concentration on the fire, she picked up a smaller stick and poked at the flames.
As the kindling and wood broke apart, the fire settled.
Perfect. She carefully arranged the tripod around the stone circle and then hooked the pot to the dangling rope.
Giving Kata a glance to ensure the animal's safety, Thora once more stepped outside the cave and searched.
There, just what she needed. Both wild onions and angelica grew in a cluster near a gathering of trees beside the stream.
She knelt beside the fluted stems with its curled leaves and studied the greenery.
She knew enough of plants, having been taught by the women of her clan after her mother's death, to recognize this was safe to eat.
If Ari caught some fish she could boil the leaves with it.
She gathered several onions and a clump of the angelica and returned to the cave to prepare them.
She pulled one of the knives from her pack.
How easily the handle of the blade twisted in her hand and she savored the feel of the weapon.
Since Ari had forbidden her this morning to wear the knife on her belt, she'd missed the comfort of the blade.
It had offered a sense of protection and she sorely needed that, though no knife would protect her from the danger Ari posed.
Focusing on her task, she soon readied the angelica and onions. The water in the pot began to bubble. How long had Ari been gone? The last of the daylight had faded some time ago. Shouldn't he have returned by now?
"Damn his soul, Kata, he wants me to worry."
Thora paced along the edge of the cave's entrance, watching for any sign of Ari or Kati in the trees. She turned her attention to another section of forest, wishing one or both would soon show themselves.
The realization she didn't know who she wanted to see more left her stomach churning.
A rustle in the nearby brush drew her attention. Kati? With caution as her guide, she stepped toward the cluster of bushes at the edge of the stream. Her attention also remained on the opposite bank, knowing any sort of creature might linger within the thick growth of underbrush.
A moment later, Kati bounded out of the bushes and to her side. A surge of relief that a wild animal didn't attack left her knees shaking, and she sank to the ground, wrapping her arms around her pet.
"He's quite a hunter."
Ari's voice drew her gaze to him as he walked alongside the stream. On his belt hung several hares. Thora stood, enthralled once again by the heat in his stare.
"Kati caught all those?'
"He caught the first four. The other four are mine. He flushed them all out, made it easy for me."
"We'll feast tonight."
Ari nodded and unhooked the hares from the belt, handing them to her. She took them and headed toward the cave. Kati immediately went to Kata's side. Aware of Ari standing nearby, Thora forced her focus on skinning the hares and preparing them to cook.
"Will you fetch me sticks to roast them with, please?"
She kept her tone cool, yet with a hint of command. After several moments of silence passed, she looked up from her work. Once again, Ari's sea-colored gaze held a hint of anger and despite her efforts to suppress it, she shivered.
"Are you giving me orders?"
So that was his problem. How she resisted the urge to throw a rock at his head, she might never know.
"Must I do everything? Am I a slave?"
He shook his head. "No, but you are the one indebted to me, remember?"
"I do, since you remind me of it at every opportunity. However, if you wish to eat, I need sticks to spit the hares. If you cannot assist, you will starve."
He chuckled. "I do like your spirit, Thora. More than I probably should. Very well, I will be back in a few minutes."
He turned and strode out of the cave. Thora held back the need to release a cry of vexation. She looked over at the wolves, both now settled on the furs.
"He's insufferable," she said. Did she imagine it, or did Kata nod? "He's lucky I don't have corncockle, or I'd poison his meal."