fur cloak over his nakedness, Thorne found a spare in his chest and left the small cubicle that served as his chamber. He made his way through the hall to where Fiona had been sleeping and was perplexed to find her missing. He shook Brann awake.
“Where is Fiona, old man?”
Brann glanced at the empty bench, then back to Thorne. Worry furrowed his wrinkled brow. “I do not know, Lord Viking.”
“I thought you were a wizard. Wizards know everything.” He grasped the front of Brann’s tunic in his huge hands, shaking him like a bundle of rags. “Where is she?”
Brann’s eyes clouded as he looked past Thornetoward the door. “Go, Viking, she needs you. Quickly.”
Thorne stared at Brann, trying to make sense out of his words. A moment later his eyes kindled with understanding. He flung Brann away and hastened out the door. It was dark outside. He saw nothing at first. Then he noticed movement next to a building where tools were stored and swerved in that direction. Seconds later he broke into a run.
Fiona went limp in Rolo’s arms, pretending submission. Once he let his guard down she intended to kick him in the groin and escape. She gagged when he gave a triumphant cry and clamped his mouth over hers. His kiss sickened her. She prayed for the strength to do him permanent injury and drew her knee back to strike.
Thorne, in the guise of her savior, appeared out of nowhere. “What in Loki’s name is going on?”
Rolo released her so suddenly, she fell to the ground.
“You are a guest in my home, Rolo. One does not abuse the hospitality of one’s host. I thought I made it clear that Fiona was off limits to everyone but myself.”
Rolo shrugged. “I have no excuse, Thorne. I don’t know what came over me. I beg your pardon.”
Thorne appeared unappeased. Fiona picked herself up off the ground, backing away from Thorne’s fury, which for some reason seemed to be directed at her as well as Rolo.
His potent gaze rendered her immobile. Hiswords stunned her. “I should have known you’d try to bewitch the brother of my betrothed, Fiona. Are my father and brother next? How many men do you want panting after you?”
Chapter Five
The ability to speak left Fiona. Thorne’s accusation was so utterly ridiculous, her first inclination was to laugh. Then mirth was replaced by anger. Finally she found her tongue and decided to answer his ludicrous question with the kind of absurdity it deserved.
“What an interesting thought, Viking. I doubt I could have every man panting after me, but it would certainly test my powers to find out, wouldn’t it?” she said sweetly, deliberately aiming her gaze above his waist.
Thorne went still. Nothing moved but for a muscle that twitched along his jaw. That should have warned Fiona, but she was too angry to notice.
“If you value your life, I suggest you limit your magic spells to one man. Luring Rolo out herewasn’t a good idea. You’re my property, Fiona. Until I release you from captivity, or you free me from your spell, do not set your sights upon another.”
“Your arrogance is disgusting,” Fiona said with considerable heat. “
If
I were able to work spells, I would change you and Rolo into toads. All Vikings are barbarians. Rolo carried me out here against my will. ’Twas only by the grace of God that I escaped his lecherous attack.”
Thorne swung around to confront Rolo. “Is that true? Did you take Fiona against her will?”
“Nay. Fiona lured me out here, just as she lured you to her island. I awoke from a sound sleep and felt her gaze upon me. ’Twas as if I had no will of my own. I heard her siren’s song and responded instinctively.”
“He lies!” Fiona spat.
“Leave us, Rolo,” Thorne said. “I will deal with my thrall.”
Rolo made a hasty retreat, happy to escape Thorne’s retribution.
“Come with me,” Thorne said, grasping Fiona’s wrist.
“Where are you taking me?”
“You can’t be trusted to sleep in the hall with
“Where is Fiona, old man?”
Brann glanced at the empty bench, then back to Thorne. Worry furrowed his wrinkled brow. “I do not know, Lord Viking.”
“I thought you were a wizard. Wizards know everything.” He grasped the front of Brann’s tunic in his huge hands, shaking him like a bundle of rags. “Where is she?”
Brann’s eyes clouded as he looked past Thornetoward the door. “Go, Viking, she needs you. Quickly.”
Thorne stared at Brann, trying to make sense out of his words. A moment later his eyes kindled with understanding. He flung Brann away and hastened out the door. It was dark outside. He saw nothing at first. Then he noticed movement next to a building where tools were stored and swerved in that direction. Seconds later he broke into a run.
Fiona went limp in Rolo’s arms, pretending submission. Once he let his guard down she intended to kick him in the groin and escape. She gagged when he gave a triumphant cry and clamped his mouth over hers. His kiss sickened her. She prayed for the strength to do him permanent injury and drew her knee back to strike.
Thorne, in the guise of her savior, appeared out of nowhere. “What in Loki’s name is going on?”
Rolo released her so suddenly, she fell to the ground.
“You are a guest in my home, Rolo. One does not abuse the hospitality of one’s host. I thought I made it clear that Fiona was off limits to everyone but myself.”
Rolo shrugged. “I have no excuse, Thorne. I don’t know what came over me. I beg your pardon.”
Thorne appeared unappeased. Fiona picked herself up off the ground, backing away from Thorne’s fury, which for some reason seemed to be directed at her as well as Rolo.
His potent gaze rendered her immobile. Hiswords stunned her. “I should have known you’d try to bewitch the brother of my betrothed, Fiona. Are my father and brother next? How many men do you want panting after you?”
Chapter Five
The ability to speak left Fiona. Thorne’s accusation was so utterly ridiculous, her first inclination was to laugh. Then mirth was replaced by anger. Finally she found her tongue and decided to answer his ludicrous question with the kind of absurdity it deserved.
“What an interesting thought, Viking. I doubt I could have every man panting after me, but it would certainly test my powers to find out, wouldn’t it?” she said sweetly, deliberately aiming her gaze above his waist.
Thorne went still. Nothing moved but for a muscle that twitched along his jaw. That should have warned Fiona, but she was too angry to notice.
“If you value your life, I suggest you limit your magic spells to one man. Luring Rolo out herewasn’t a good idea. You’re my property, Fiona. Until I release you from captivity, or you free me from your spell, do not set your sights upon another.”
“Your arrogance is disgusting,” Fiona said with considerable heat. “
If
I were able to work spells, I would change you and Rolo into toads. All Vikings are barbarians. Rolo carried me out here against my will. ’Twas only by the grace of God that I escaped his lecherous attack.”
Thorne swung around to confront Rolo. “Is that true? Did you take Fiona against her will?”
“Nay. Fiona lured me out here, just as she lured you to her island. I awoke from a sound sleep and felt her gaze upon me. ’Twas as if I had no will of my own. I heard her siren’s song and responded instinctively.”
“He lies!” Fiona spat.
“Leave us, Rolo,” Thorne said. “I will deal with my thrall.”
Rolo made a hasty retreat, happy to escape Thorne’s retribution.
“Come with me,” Thorne said, grasping Fiona’s wrist.
“Where are you taking me?”
“You can’t be trusted to sleep in the hall with
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