Page 33 of The Warrior's Innocent Captive

Linota nodded against Erik’s back. He must have felt her movement or else he believed her threat to jump down because he brought Cai to a stop. She leapt down before he had a chance to help her. Her knees jarred as she landed on the ground, but she barely noticed the pain.

She stalked away from Cai.

‘Stay where I can see you,’ called Erik.

She ignored him, striding through the trees with large, angry steps.

How dare he! He’d laughed with her, made her feel special. He’d even kissed her, knowing all the while that she was Borwyn’s potential bride.

Did Katherine know? Linota doubted it. Katherine would have been thrilled by the knowledge. With a dowry that size behind them they could both make fantastic marriages, which was what Katherine had always wanted. Any nobleman in the country would want that connection with the Earl of Ogmore, never mind the wealth the man would gain through the dowry. It wouldn’t matter what she wanted. Her hopes and dreams would be completely smothered in the grab for that much wealth and power.

And it wasn’t even as if her dreams were huge. She didn’t care for the trappings that came with being a great nobleman’s wife. She’d never wanted to help run a fortress or even a smaller castle. All she’d ever wanted was to be loved—to have someone to hold her when she was scared and to laugh with when she was happy.

She stumbled over a log and realised she was crying. She wiped away the tears. It was no good being this upset. It didn’t change anything. She took a deep, shuddering breath. Erik wasn’t to know that she was falling for him. He hadn’t asked her to and, aside from the kiss, he had never given her any reason to hope that his feelings were any deeper than momentary desire.

She’d known all along that even if he had they could never be together. Braedan would not countenance such a match. They were trying to raise the Leofric name, not bring it down. An unclaimed bastard would not do as a husband for her, even without the dowry.

She came across a narrow stream, the edges of which were lined with ice. Sitting down on the frozen ground, she watched the water flow beneath her. It was strangely calming to think this stream would carry on its path no matter what went on in the world around it.

A snapping of a twig behind her had her sighing in resignation. Erik had found her. The time for her sulk was over. She needed to carry on as if nothing had ever happened between them. As if she hadn’t been falling for the man, hadn’t been willing to risk the wrath of her sister and brother just to be with him.

She stood slowly and turned.

She opened her mouth to apologise for her outburst and then froze.

It wasn’t Erik who had followed her.

It was Gamel.

Chapter Eight

Gamel moved quickly, pressing a hand over her mouth before she could scream for help.

‘Don’t even think about it,’ he growled in her ear. ‘You’ve caused me no end of trouble, you little whore. De Bevoir ain’t gonna pay me after your disappearin’ act so now I’m gonna get me a new deal.’

He pushed her hard against a tree. The rough bark bit into her back and she whimpered in pain.

‘I’m gonna take what’s my due and then I’m gonna sell you to a whorehouse, which is exactly where you belong.’

She squirmed against him, desperate to be free.

He laughed at her attempts. ‘You’re gonna give me what I want and don’t think lover boy is gonna come to your rescue. He’s busy moonin’ after you. Givin’ you some time to think. We’ll be on our way before he knows you’re missin’.’

Gamel unclasped her cloak and it dropped to the ground. The world swam as Linota tried to get breath into her lungs. It was so hard. Gamel’s hand still covered her mouth and her nose didn’t seem to be able to take a deep enough breath. She was going to die without ever seeing Erik or Katherine again.

Gamel reached down to gather up her skirt and she kicked out, her booted foot connecting with his shin.

‘You bitch,’ he hissed, raising his hand to smack her.

She screamed Erik’s name, before the rough hand of his fist came down on her cheek.

‘Please,’ she muttered, shoving against Gamel and managing to break free of his grasp. ‘Please.’

She shifted back towards the stream, Gamel following her closely. Surely Erik would have heard her scream. He couldn’t be too far away. She only had to survive until he found them.

Gamel lunged for her. She dodged and pushed him at the same time. He lost his footing on the ice and went crashing to the ground.

He didn’t get up.

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