The vikings witch, p.22
The Viking's Witch, page 22
Odaria rolled to her side and snuggled up against his chest. She draped her arm around his ribs and kissed his cheek. “I told you my love potion worked.”
“Ja, I believe you,” he croaked out in between breaths. His entire body prickled, and his penis felt numb. “No more potions, witch, lest you be the death of me.”
She giggled and kissed him on the mouth. “Nay, you’ll need no more encouragement to lie with me again.” She drew a blanket over her naked body, then cuddled closer, pressing her breasts against his chest.
He glanced at her. She was grinning from ear to ear and seemed to be in good spirits for a woman who’d just been ravished. “Did I hurt you? I tried to be tender.”
“It hurt a bit at first. It felt like a hard pinch and burned inside, but then it was fine.” She brushed one of his braids away from his sweaty face. “What happens now?”
“Now we rest,” he said, curling his arm around her waist. “Men always need to rest after lovemaking. We must renew our strength after being drained.” He adjusted the blanket across his shoulders and closed his eyes. “Especially men who have been bewitched into lovemaking after being beaten nearly to death the night before.” He sighed. “I’m as weak as a mouse now, but I certainly feel good.”
“You worked hard inside me. And I’m glad you liked it. I wasn’t sure what I should do to make you satisfied.”
He kissed her cheek. “Go to sleep now, love.” He didn’t want to talk. He needed some rest. Even an hour’s worth would restore his energy.
Odaria was quiet for a moment, then spoke. “Rothgar, will you still bring me home with you, as you promised? You won’t leave me behind, will you?”
“What?” He looked at Odaria. She was biting her bottom lip, and tears welled in her green eyes. “Why would you ask me that?”
She blinked a few times and shrugged. “I thought you might have promised that only so you could be the first to have me. I didn’t know if you wanted me with you because you … truly care for me.”
“Of course I care for you.” He hugged her tight. “You’re coming home with me because I want to be with you. We will live on my farm and make love every night. I will not leave without you, Odaria. I swear.”
She sniffled and nodded. “I needed to be sure. You are all I’ve got. Part of me worried that after we had lain together, there would be nothing left you’d want from me.” She let out a little laugh. “I suppose I’m being silly on account of what we’ve done.”
“That is possible. You are a sensitive woman and your tender body is not used to being invaded by a well-endowed Norseman,” he joked and kissed her cheek. “Rest now, my little witch. Do not worry. I will never leave you. I promise. I will take you away with me soon. You are more precious to me than anything else in the world.”
He closed his eyes and settled under the blanket. Why was Odaria talking this way? Had she seen a troubling vision of the future? He pushed that thought aside. She had no reason to worry about his loyalty. He had no intention of leaving her here. Tomorrow morning they would simply board his ship and set sail for home.
All they had to do was make it through the rest of the night, and everything would be fine. Their time left on the isle was limited. What could possibly happen to them in a few short hours?
Odaria rolled over in bed and opened her eyes. She stifled a yawn as she glanced out the window. It was dark. How long had she been asleep? Where was Rothgar?
After they had woken from their nap in the cairn, they had eaten a hearty meal and snuggled under the blankets. Rothgar told her stories about his homeland and promised her that they would leave in the morning.
When they had returned to the gathering hall, Rothgar had insisted that she go upstairs and take a nap. Tomorrow would be a busy day, and he wanted her well rested for their journey. She grinned. Everything was going to be fine after all. Even though she’d given herself to Rothgar, she had no reason to worry about him abandoning her. By this time tomorrow, they’d be sailing across the sea.
She climbed out of bed and stretched her arms over her head. Her right hip popped, and she winced. Although she had enjoyed making love, the muscles in her hips and thighs ached from being stretched. She was pleasantly sore in new, private places.
Rothgar’s forceful lovemaking had satisfied her immediate craving, yet she wanted to do it again. Toward the end, as Rothgar’s thrusts grew faster and deeper, she felt an odd tickling sensation building inside her, but then it faded. She’d been tempted to ask Rothgar what it was, but she hadn’t wanted to appear stupid. The next time they made love, she would ask him to explain it to her.
She let out a sigh of contentment as she pulled on her red dress and boots. Would being intimate with Rothgar always feel like that, or were there more wicked delights to come? She hoped so.
She opened the bedroom door and walked down the first two steps. Voices from the main room caught her attention, and she paused on the stairs. Who was Rothgar talking to?
“Give me what I want, and you will have what you want. Refuse, and die.”
“How do I know I can trust you, pagan devil?”
She covered her mouth with her hand. That was Brennan’s voice. Why was Rothgar talking to him?
“Do you have a choice? What do you have to lose with this bargain? When you give me Orvind, my men and I will leave. You may keep Odaria. I’ve taken my fill of her,” Rothgar said, then chuckled.
She clutched the banister and closed her eyes. The room spun, and she felt her stomach drop. This could not be happening. Just this afternoon, Rothgar had promised to take her away with him. But now that he’d deflowered her, he was trading her for Orvind. How could he betray her so quickly?
“Is it a deal?” Rothgar said.
Brennan let out a long sigh. “Aye. I shall show you where your friend has been kept. But I warn you. If any Norsemen follow us or if you attempt to use trickery against me, the bargain is canceled.” Brennan paused. “And whether your friend is dead or alive, I still get Odaria.”
“Agreed. There will be no tricks. Odaria is yours. Take her and do as you please. The sooner I am off this dreadful isle and home among my people, the happier I’ll be.”
Odaria blinked back tears. Rothgar didn’t care for her one bit. He’d merely used her to sate his lust and then lied about taking her home with him. She swallowed the lump in her throat. How could she have been fooled so easily? She had trusted him, given herself to him, and for what? To be used as chattel?
Rothgar spoke to someone in Norse, then cleared his throat. “You will take me to Orvind at first light. If you keep your word, by this time tomorrow we will be far away.”
Odaria balled her fists and clenched her jaw. First light? As soon as Rothgar gave her over to Brennan, she’d be dead. Thunder rumbled overhead, and she opened her eyes. Rothgar thought he was sending her to her death, but she’d have the final say over her own fate.
She bolted down the stairs two at a time. “How dare you!”
Rothgar and Brennan spun in their chairs and gaped at her. Sig stood in the cookroom doorway. His eyes widened as she grabbed a nearby chair and hurled it at Brennan’s head. He ducked, and the chair went crashing to the floor.
“Odaria, stop it,” Rothgar yelled.
Her rage built as she crossed the room to face him. “Shut your mouth, filthy, lying bastard.” She slapped him across the face as hard as she could. “You think you’ll give me to Brennan and let him do as he pleases, eh? We shall see about that.”
Her temper flared, and a pitcher of beer flew off the table. It shattered against the far wall.
Sig gasped and took a step back, his hand instinctively clutching the hilt of his sword.
Rothgar stood, towering over her. “Hurl all the pottery you wish, but slap me again, witch, and I will turn you over to Brennan now,” he bellowed.
She glared into Rothgar’s cold, ice-blue eyes. “Now that you’ve had your fill of me this afternoon, you wish to cast me aside? I think not.” She sneered. “I hope you enjoyed yourself. For I shall see to it that you will never be fit to lie with another woman for the rest of your miserable life.”
Rothgar clasped her shoulders and shook her lightly. “Odaria, be quiet and—”
“Nay!” She yanked from his grip. “You can go to hell. You are nothing but a filthy liar.”
She unpinned the silver brooch from her dress and threw it at the fireplace. “That’s what I think of you and your false promises.” She ignored the shocked look on Rothgar’s face and narrowed her eyes to slits as she backed to the door.
“You have sealed your fate, Rothgar. You have wounded and betrayed me, and for that, you shall suffer with the lot of them,” she shouted, then ran out of the gathering hall.
“It seems the witch has outwitted you,” Brennan said, laughing. “She is quite clever. Go fetch her. If I do not get Odaria, you do not get your friend.”
“Shut up.” Rothgar punched Brennan in the jaw. The chair he was tied to toppled backward and hit the floor. He spoke to Sig. “Stay here and stand guard over this piece of pig filth. See that no harm comes to him until I return,” he growled as he went outside.
Thunder boomed in the distance as he spotted Odaria running toward the edge of the village. He chased after her, digging his boots into the soft earth. He had to catch up and explain what she’d seen and heard.
How long had she been on the stairs, listening? Obviously long enough to overhear some of the cruel things he’d said. He couldn’t blame her for being angry and reacting the way she had, but it did work to his advantage.
After he had returned from the cairn, he’d sent Odaria upstairs to rest, then started making preparations for them to sail in the morning. Just before dark, Nordskog had told him that Brennan was asking for him. When he arrived at the church, he wasn’t surprised to find that Brennan was missing two fingers from his right hand. Nordskog had used his own method of persuading, and now Brennan was most eager to talk.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Brennan offered to make an exchange with him—Odaria for Orvind. Although striking such a bargain with a devil made him feel sick to his stomach, he’d had no choice but to agree. He couldn’t leave the island knowing that Orvind was still alive somewhere and he’d done nothing to save him.
The night sky opened up, and an ice-cold rain began to fall. His boots slipped on the wet grass and mud as he ran across the fields after Odaria. Where was she going? After a few seconds, he realized she was heading for her cairn. She was going to use it as a place of refuge against him.
A moment later, he reached the cairn. He wiped the rainwater off his face as a bolt of purple lightning lit up the sky. Where was Odaria? He glanced around and saw something that chilled him to the bone. Odaria stood several hundred yards away near the edge of the cliff.
“Odaria, stop.”
Quick as a cat, she ran along the cliff’s edge and onto the outcropping of rocks.
He darted after her. The ground was slick, and his leather boots kept slipping on the wet grass. If Odaria fell … He pushed the horrible thought aside and kept running. He had to save her. He couldn’t let her end her life over a misunderstanding. If he didn’t reach her in time … If she jumped … he might as well follow her over the edge.
He reached the outcropping a moment later. Odaria stopped and whirled around, her dress and hair billowing behind her in the wind.
“Stay away from me. I hate you. Turn me over to Brennan will you? I think not. I’d sooner die than fall into his clutches again.”
“Odaria, listen to me.” As he reached out to touch her shoulder, a boom of thunder rocked the earth. Despite the icy rain pelting down on them, he could feel the heat radiating from her. She was upset, and her powers were strong.
“Don’t you dare touch me.” She glared at him, the gold flecks in her eyes gleaming in the night. “You think you’re going to decide my fate and give me to Brennan? Nay. I choose my own fate. And without me, you shall never get Orvind.”
Odaria stepped to the edge of the cliff. He lunged out and grabbed her around the waist, holding her fast.
She struggled against him. “Set me free, you filthy sea bastard.”
He tightened his grip, not caring if he crushed her ribs. They were both soaking wet, and he had a hard time holding her still.
“No wife of mine will do herself in,” he shouted as he dragged her kicking and screaming away from the cliff.
Lightning flashed again as Odaria wriggled one of her hands free and slapped him across the mouth. “I hate you! Let me go.”
He shook her hard, hoping to rattle some sense into her head. “Listen to me. I had no choice but to make a trade with Brennan. Now be still.” He hoisted her onto his shoulder, wincing as she pounded her fists into his already sore back and ribs.
Odaria screamed and flailed as he carried her across the fields. He’d let her fight him all she wanted. It would only wear her out and make her easier to control come morning.
He ignored her shouts and violent curses as he lugged her through the blinding rain and back to the gathering hall. Part of him longed to cradle her in his arms and soothe her, but he couldn’t. For now, it would be best if she despised him. Her hatred would make his task tomorrow easier.
He kicked open the front door to the gathering hall and strode through the main room.
“I see you found the witch. Are you going to sample her poisonous flesh once again before she’s set ablaze?” Brennan called out, chuckling.
“Drop dead,” he growled over his shoulder. He shouted an order to Sig as he carried Odaria upstairs.
He opened the bedchamber door and set Odaria down. She wobbled for a moment, then rushed at him, kicking and punching him wildly. “I hate you. You should be made into a blood eagle,” she screamed as she beat on his chest.
“Quiet!” He shoved her back against the bed. “Remove your dress and boots. Now.”
“Rot in hell. Do you think I’ll strip for you so you can plunge your man-sword—”
“Do as I say, witch.” He stared into her eyes. “Now. Lest I lose my patience and tear that dress off you.”
The harsh tone in his voice seemed to quiet her. Odaria turned her back to him and began undressing. She kicked off her muddy boots and unlaced her bodice. Her shoulders trembled as she removed the dress and let it fall to the floor in a heap.
“Turn and hand it to me.”
She picked up the soggy dress off the floor and hurled it in his face. “Here. Take it. Does that make you happy?”
He glanced at her nude body. She was soaking wet and shivering. Her rosy nipples were perked hard, like pebbles. A rivulet of water dripped down her belly and into the patch of soaked hair between her legs.
“Get in bed.”
Odaria folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. “Is that it, then? You shall have your way with me before you see me killed? Is that all you foul Norsemen—?”
“Do as I say.”
She took a step back and sat on the edge of the bed. “Do not expect me to part my legs eagerly for you this time. If you mean to have me, you’ll have to take me by force and—”
“Quiet!” He opened his canvas bag and withdrew a length of stout rope.
“What is that for?”
To his surprise, he heard a tremble in Odaria’s voice. What did she think he was going to do with the rope? He ignored her question and approached the bed. “Lie down.”
She obeyed him without protest. He raised her arms over her head and looped the rope through the slats in the headboard.
“Is this how you are to take me? Tied still, so I canna escape you? Why not tie my legs open, as well? It shall be easier to get inside me then. Will you invite all the Norsemen to come in and take a piece? I’m certain they’d all love to stick it in me and—”
“Must you speak so crudely?” he said as he bound her wrists together.
“Or better yet, why not charge them a fee and make yourself rich at the same time?”
“You have a foul mind as well as a foul mouth, little witch.”
Odaria kicked him hard in the ribs. He winced and doubled over.
“Release me, else the gods shall—”
He covered her mouth with his hand and stared into her eyes. “If you kick me again, I will tie your legs to the bed. Speak once more, and I will stuff a rag in your mouth.”
He moved his hand away and straightened up. His patience was wearing thin, and the sooner all this was over, the better. “I have much to do tonight, and I cannot have you throwing yourself over cliffs to your doom. Understand that I must do this.”
“I hate you. I regret ever conjuring you from the sea. I regret letting you touch me—”
“Letting me?” He laughed. “You were the one who bewitched me into making love to you.” An amusing idea came to him, and he arched an eyebrow. “You truly hate me?”
“Aye, down to me soul.”
He grinned. “I believe you not, Odaria, but we will find out in the morning. Rest well.” He covered her with the bedclothes, then scooped up her wet dress and boots.
“Morning? Where are you going? You’re leaving me tied up here all night?”
“It’s for your own good.” He opened the door and went into the corridor. “I’ll return before dawn. Pleasant dreams, my little witch.” He pulled the door closed and locked it behind him.
“Rothgar, come back.”
He ignored Odaria as he headed downstairs. He had much to do before sunrise.
Chapter Thirteen
“Are you awake?”
Odaria opened her eyes at the sound of Rothgar’s voice. She had been dozing on and off for the last few hours. Last night after Rothgar had left, she had ranted and raged, struggling against the ropes that bound her to the bed. After several hours, she’d given up and cried herself to sleep.
