starving.”
Reyna cast an uncertain glance at Wulf before sinking onto the bench. She was starved and wasn’t about to deny herself the pleasure of a meal.
As the thralls began placing food on the table, Reyna felt a strange undercurrent she did not understand. From the surreptitious glances aimed at her, she assumed it concerned her future.
Did Wulf intend to sell her to another master?
Chapter Four
Wulf pushed his chair away from the table and rose. “It has been an eventful day and I am exhausted. Reyna can remain here to night in case my brother has need of her.”
“Reyna deserves a good night’s rest,” Thora replied. “Take her with you. I’d like to keep Uma and Lorne, however, to help our thralls tend the wounded. They may need water or assistance during the night. As for Olaf, I will look after him myself. Reyna can check on him on the morrow.”
Wulf glanced at Reyna and gave a jerky nod. She rose immediately and followed him out the door. The night was dark, moonless, and completely devoid of stars. Wulf thought it was a fitting end to a day of carnage. Three of his friends had died this day and several others were wounded. His own life had been in jeopardy. If not for Reyna’s quick thinking, he would be with his fore-father in Valhalla this very night.
Wulf entered the hall and turned back to watch Reyna. She had followed him inside but stopped on the threshold.
“What is it?” His voice held a gruffness he hadn’t intended. Or had he? Being alone with Reyna did things to his body he didn’t understand. His blood pumped at a furious pace and his loins grew painfully tight.
“Am I allowed to use the steam hut?”
Her question sent Wulf’s cock into spasms. He imagined Reyna naked, sweat beading her lush body as hot mist swirled around her.
“I suppose it would be all right. But there’s a volcanic pool a short distance behind the hall that would better serve your purpose. I will accompany you, of course. You will find soap and linen drying cloths in the cupboard. Fetch them.”
Reyna gave a defiant shake of her head. “I prefer to bathe in private.”
When Reyna refused to move, Wulf asked, “Are you afraid of me?”
“Of course I am. I would be a fool not to fear the man who abused me.”
“I did not do that to you, Reyna. Another warrior hurt you.”
“Name him,” Reyna demanded.
Wulf considered her request. Olga was fond of her brother. If Wulf named Rannulf, Reyna might confront Olga, and a confrontation between them could prove harmful to Olga. Wulf wanted no harm to come to Hagar’s heir so he kept the name to himself.
“Believe me when I say that I was not the man who abused you.”
“Liar!”
Wulf winced; her accusation affected him more than he cared to admit. He recalled how pitiful she had looked when he had scooped her from the ground and carried her to his dragonship. Fragile, bruised, defiled, her eyes empty. He no longer hated Reyna for who she was. He was beginning to understand that Norsemen were no different from Dane warriors. All those who fit the description of Vikings plundered, raped and killed, and he had joined in the carnage before he wed Astrid.Wulf had turned to trading after his marriage, save for one or two retaliation raids into Dane territory after his wife’s death.
Wulf glared at Reyna. Why was she being so difficult? How could she mistake him for Rannulf? True, they were both blond and had worn iron helmets that day, and they had been garbed nearly alike. But the similarities ended there. Wulf was larger and broader than Rannulf, and lacked the scar that marked Rannulf’s left cheek. But he supposed a woman being ravaged wouldn’t notice those differences.
“Go,” Wulf growled, “I will not join you. If I have need of a woman, Uma will gladly service me.”
“Uma fancies you, though I do not know why. Perhaps you are kinder to her than you are to me.”
“You are treading on dangerous ground, Reyna. If you wish to go to
Reyna cast an uncertain glance at Wulf before sinking onto the bench. She was starved and wasn’t about to deny herself the pleasure of a meal.
As the thralls began placing food on the table, Reyna felt a strange undercurrent she did not understand. From the surreptitious glances aimed at her, she assumed it concerned her future.
Did Wulf intend to sell her to another master?
Chapter Four
Wulf pushed his chair away from the table and rose. “It has been an eventful day and I am exhausted. Reyna can remain here to night in case my brother has need of her.”
“Reyna deserves a good night’s rest,” Thora replied. “Take her with you. I’d like to keep Uma and Lorne, however, to help our thralls tend the wounded. They may need water or assistance during the night. As for Olaf, I will look after him myself. Reyna can check on him on the morrow.”
Wulf glanced at Reyna and gave a jerky nod. She rose immediately and followed him out the door. The night was dark, moonless, and completely devoid of stars. Wulf thought it was a fitting end to a day of carnage. Three of his friends had died this day and several others were wounded. His own life had been in jeopardy. If not for Reyna’s quick thinking, he would be with his fore-father in Valhalla this very night.
Wulf entered the hall and turned back to watch Reyna. She had followed him inside but stopped on the threshold.
“What is it?” His voice held a gruffness he hadn’t intended. Or had he? Being alone with Reyna did things to his body he didn’t understand. His blood pumped at a furious pace and his loins grew painfully tight.
“Am I allowed to use the steam hut?”
Her question sent Wulf’s cock into spasms. He imagined Reyna naked, sweat beading her lush body as hot mist swirled around her.
“I suppose it would be all right. But there’s a volcanic pool a short distance behind the hall that would better serve your purpose. I will accompany you, of course. You will find soap and linen drying cloths in the cupboard. Fetch them.”
Reyna gave a defiant shake of her head. “I prefer to bathe in private.”
When Reyna refused to move, Wulf asked, “Are you afraid of me?”
“Of course I am. I would be a fool not to fear the man who abused me.”
“I did not do that to you, Reyna. Another warrior hurt you.”
“Name him,” Reyna demanded.
Wulf considered her request. Olga was fond of her brother. If Wulf named Rannulf, Reyna might confront Olga, and a confrontation between them could prove harmful to Olga. Wulf wanted no harm to come to Hagar’s heir so he kept the name to himself.
“Believe me when I say that I was not the man who abused you.”
“Liar!”
Wulf winced; her accusation affected him more than he cared to admit. He recalled how pitiful she had looked when he had scooped her from the ground and carried her to his dragonship. Fragile, bruised, defiled, her eyes empty. He no longer hated Reyna for who she was. He was beginning to understand that Norsemen were no different from Dane warriors. All those who fit the description of Vikings plundered, raped and killed, and he had joined in the carnage before he wed Astrid.Wulf had turned to trading after his marriage, save for one or two retaliation raids into Dane territory after his wife’s death.
Wulf glared at Reyna. Why was she being so difficult? How could she mistake him for Rannulf? True, they were both blond and had worn iron helmets that day, and they had been garbed nearly alike. But the similarities ended there. Wulf was larger and broader than Rannulf, and lacked the scar that marked Rannulf’s left cheek. But he supposed a woman being ravaged wouldn’t notice those differences.
“Go,” Wulf growled, “I will not join you. If I have need of a woman, Uma will gladly service me.”
“Uma fancies you, though I do not know why. Perhaps you are kinder to her than you are to me.”
“You are treading on dangerous ground, Reyna. If you wish to go to
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