Page 46 of The Warrior's Innocent Captive

‘Are you all right?’ asked Emma.

Linota sipped her wine. ‘Yes, I—’

Whatever she’d been about to say died on her lips as she looked up. Erik was standing in the doorway, a faint smile touching his lips.

She leapt to her feet, her heart pounding in her throat. He opened his arms and she ran to him, everything else forgotten.

Without stopping to think she flung her arms around his waist and burrowed her head against his chest. His arms came around her and he held her tightly against him.

She was vaguely aware of Emma slipping past her and then they were alone.

‘Where’ve you been?’ she asked, her voice muffled by his tunic.

‘I’m sorry, my love. I have been at the fortress, trying to...’ He cleared his throat. ‘It’s been difficult. Nobody has any answers for me.’

‘Has Katherine arrived?’

His muscles tensed beneath her cheek.

‘What’s happened?’ She pushed herself slightly away from him so that she could look at his face.

He hesitated and her knees weakened. Up until this moment she’d imagined that Katherine was safe and well at the fortress, or at least nearly there, but Erik’s frown suggested otherwise.

‘Is she...?’

‘She had a small accident,’ he said gently. ‘She fell off her horse as she was chasing after you.’

‘No...’

Linota’s legs buckled beneath her. Erik’s arms tightened around her, keeping her from falling.

‘She is well.’ He brushed a strand of hair away from her face. ‘But the accident delayed her and Borwyn’s arrival.’

‘Oh, Katherine.’ Linota shook her head. ‘She is such a terrible rider. It’s not surprising she fell off. I know Borwyn gave her some advice on how to improve, but she wouldn’t listen. She’s so stubborn.’ Linota laid a hand on his chest and looked up into his eyes. ‘You’d tell me if she was really hurt, wouldn’t you?’

His long fingers curled around hers. ‘Of course I would. I believe she was briefly knocked unconscious, but there is no lasting damage. I’m sure she is very worried about you, but hopefully you will be reunited shortly.’

He gazed down at her and the moment stretched between them. His head lowered and she held her breath, waiting for his lips to touch hers. A log fell in the grate and Erik jumped. A look crossed his eyes that she couldn’t interpret. He dropped his hands and stood back.

His gaze flickered over the top of her head, towards the fire. ‘I see I am interrupting your meal. Please carry on with your food.’

He moved past her towards the flames, holding out his hands as if to warm them. She knew, from the feel of him, that he wasn’t cold. He was avoiding holding her, but he’d called her his love and held her tightly. Whatever was holding him back from kissing her she was sure it wasn’t a lack of desire to do so. Her heart didn’t sink even as he kept his back to her.

She settled back down next to the trencher and this time when the smell of the meat hit her she realised she was ravenously hungry. She bit into a huge chunk and almost moaned as the meat melted on her tongue.

‘Would you like some?’ She held a cut of meat out to him.

‘Thank you, but I ate at the fortress.’

He smiled down at her, his eyes twinkling in the candlelight.

‘Can you tell me what’s going on?’ she asked as she scraped the bowl clean. She tore off a hunk of bread and began to chew on it.

The amusement in his gaze faded.

‘It’s...complicated,’ he said slowly.

She patted the floor beside her. ‘Come and tell me.’

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