CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Long hours of holding Thora before him again left Ari aching with need.
He'd refrained from tormenting her as he had the last time they'd ridden like this.
He wasn't sure why, his fingers itched to make her writhe against him and beg for her pleasure.
But something warned him that her already frayed senses might not withstand any more conflicting emotions.
He found himself unwilling to break her, and if he didn't ease up, he surely would.
Yet, when he'd returned to unbind her, the fury in her dark eyes warned he must use caution around her.
The trust he'd garnered had been shattered once she'd learned his true identity.
Remorse mingled with the need to show he was unmoved by her hurt.
He'd kept up a callous expression and mood since they'd set off once more, but maintaining the pretense grew more difficult with each step Gyllir took.
Why did he care? She was meant to be used as a tool in his revenge, but somehow, the feisty wolf mistress had ensnared him in a way that left him doubting himself in so many ways.
Was he weak to care so much for her feelings?
He'd learned long ago not to trust anyone, yet here he was practically forgetting his goals all so he could slake his desires with the woman before him.
A sharp, twisting pinch on his arm drew him from the troubling thoughts and he let out a growl of pain.
"You're squeezing me too tight! I can't breathe!"
With a snap back to clarity, he eased the arm around her waist, but offered no apology, allowing his annoyance to rise again.
His behavior was all her fault. At least, he tried to convince himself of that.
Several days ago, he hadn't even known her.
What would have happened if he hadn't come upon her with those outlaws?
His heart squeezed at the possibilities.
Perhaps meeting his brother had contributed to this uneasiness and fierce need to keep Thora safe.
Doing so had been a priority since the day he'd saved her, but only because he wasn't finished claiming the debt she owed.
But now... somehow, this need had grown deeper, more intense.
As if losing her to his brother would devastate him more than being cast out of his home.
When had she become more important than his clan, his reputation?
Showing such concern was a weakness, one easily exploited if he didn't control the pandemonium destroying all coherent thought.
He glanced skyward. Soon, Sol's chariot would begin its descent, allowing Máni to rise and resume his flight across the starlit sky. Ari wanted to have their camp made, but so far had seen nothing suitable for their needs.
"There!" Thora sat up, her bound arms outstretched.
Ari reined Gyllir to a halt and peered in the direction she indicated. Sure enough, another cave carved into the side of a mountain lay not more than several paces to their right. Smart girl.
"Thank you. My father taught me well." The pleased note in her tone sent a shiver along Ari's spine. He hadn't realized he'd spoken aloud. And he wasn't sure he regretted it.
He forced himself to ignore her excitement, assuming it meant only that she could be away from him once they camped.
He guided Gyllir to the mouth of the cave.
Though not as secluded as the other, it still looked to provide adequate shelter for them both and the wolves.
For now. His journey must resume in a short time.
Not willing to focus on the other factors of his quest at the moment, he dismounted and unsheathed his sword, cautiously daring a few steps into the hole in the mountain.
Perhaps slightly larger, the cave appeared very similar to the one they'd fled this morning. He faced Thora.
"I'll inspect it."
"Of course." She grabbed the edge of the saddle with her bound hands and swung her leg over, sliding to the ground before he moved to offer assistance. "Light a torch."
Moving in close, he fixed a stern glare on her at the command in her tone, but said nothing. Did she forget her place? He'd remind her soon enough. A surge of lust speared into his cock but he tamped it down. Grabbing the trailing end of the rope binding her wrists, he pulled her close.
"Can I trust you to wait here while I study the cave?"
Her gaze held his, a steely determination clear in their depths. "As I trusted you when you lied to me?"
"Then you shall come with me."
Reaching into the pouch on his belt, he pulled out the fire stone and turned, stopping short.
Thora held out a sturdy stick. He hesitated before accepting the small branch, part of him wondering if she'd intended to strike him with it instead of offering it for use.
Her bland expression served to deepen his concern.
She hid her fiery nature well when it suited her.
However, it didn't suit him. He wanted to tap the full depths of her spirit.
Tonight, he vowed, she would bare her entire soul.
He made quick work of setting the branch alight and headed toward the cave. A sharp pull on the rope binding Thora's wrists forced her to fall into step behind him. Her exasperated muttering contained language sure to scorch his mother's ears. Ari was glad she saw only his back and not his grin.
The torch confirmed the cave was shallow.
Any fire would have to be lit outside the mouth, increasing the chances of being seen at night.
Ari determined they would stay here only this night.
Hopefully, the she-wolf had healed enough to be better able to travel on her own for a time, giving the journey a quicker pace.
And justice sooner claimed.
Silently, he led Thora back to Gyllir. "Bring the packs into the cave, set up a pallet for us and your wolves. Then return to me."
"So now you will treat me as slave."
He found himself longing to kiss the tight line of her lips into surrender. "No, not slave. But I can't do everything."
She continued to glare at him but accepted the packs without complaint.
He kept a casual watch over her while she spread the furs out inside the cave.
Her bound hands made the task more difficult.
Watching her struggle roused the urge to help her, but he forced it aside.
Glancing up, he found the sun still high enough in the sky that they didn't need to light a fire just yet.
Unhooking the pulka, he tethered Gyllir to a tree near the cave entrance.
If his judgment and direction were accurate, as they usually were, the same stream should be just beyond the edge of trees.
They would follow it out of the low ridge of mountains to some of the more traveled roads.
Then Ari would decide which path to take to The Thing.
In the days ahead, he expected his supporters would also arrive or be close to Tingwalla.
They were to meet on the night that Máni appeared whole in the sky.
With Odin's blessing, on the following day, Ari's opportunity to speak would come, bolstered by the testimony of the others.
He would reveal all then, starting with the poison slipped into the jarl's food during a feast. It hadn't killed Drengr, but it had sickened him and left him weak for quite some time.
Hersir had used that time to garner support for becoming the jarl's heir.
Feigning concern over Drengr's condition, he'd convinced the sick man to share some of his political plans as well as those for upcoming raids.
Hersir had quickly used that information to carry out some of the raids and further cement his position as the next in line to rule their clan.
Months later, one of the clansmen had snuck into the longhouse and attempted to murder the jarl while he slept. Instead, the attacker had been caught and with his last breath, had named Ari the one who'd ordered the assassination.
Thankfully, Jarl Drengr was not convinced of the accusation, which left Ari merely banished and not dead. While the sentence had devastated him, he'd been grateful for the chance to eventually clear his name, instead of to die in shame, barred from Valhalla.
His time was at hand. The witnesses who were paid by Hersir had also been badly betrayed by him, forcing them and their families from their homes.
Every one of the men Ari had searched for and spoken with had said the same thing.
They wanted the opportunity to take Hersir down, to make him pay for stripping them of their honor, their homes.
Alone, fearing the murder of their families and that they too would face execution rather than the glory of dying in battle, they had remained silent.
Now, with a solid plan and the support of each other, their determination had returned.
Ari had made many blood and mead sacrifices to Tyr for each successful meeting, knowing the god of war would ensure victory in the upcoming battle.
For Ari had no doubt, he would be forced to fight his brother at some point. He intended to be victorious.
Satisfied Gyllir was secure, Ari turned back to the cave.
Thora stood with an impatient expression lining her beautiful face.
How could the mere sight of her make him forget all he'd been thinking on?
She posed a very real danger, one he intended to subdue, for fear it made him weak.
Now was not the time to be seen as pathetic and incapable of controlling one small woman. He stalked over to her.
"Call your wolf. She should be able to walk to the cave."
Her eyes widened at his harsh tone, but she obeyed, summoning her pets.
Though still weak, the she-wolf followed the male to the cave, her gait a little more sure than it had been even a day ago.
After allowing Thora to settle the animals, Ari grabbed the tail of her bonds and pulled her behind him.
"Help me gather kindling."