“Here, I have some dried meat and a bit of bread.” He reached into the cloth pouch that dangled from his waist. She traded in the canteen for a piece of bread and a few bites of meat. “It isn’t much, but it will get us to where we are going.”
“Where are we going? Can you tell me yet?” she asked before she ripped off a hunk of bread.
“You’ll see.” He didn’t know how to explain where they were going, nor did he want to think about it. “Let me see that ankle.” He changed the subject quickly.
Falling to his knees, he hoisted up her skirt. She choked on her bread when he grabbed her leg, stretching it out exposed and naked beneath his heated gaze.
“What are you doing?” she attempted to say, the bread muffling her words. She tugged her leg hard, shrieking into her mouthful of bread when the pain radiated from the sharp movement.
“I’m making sure it’s not broken. Would you hold still? There’s nothing to be shy about. I’ve already seen your legs, remember? On the ship. You gave me a full view. In all honesty, they are even nicer than I had imagined them.”
Nora swallowed her chunk of bread, gasping for air. “You were imagining my legs?”
“For starters.” He looked up from between them and winked.
Crimson cheeks met his sly smile. If she bit her lip any harder, she’d draw blood.
“It’s not broken. Just sprained. You’ll likely be able to walk on it by morning. It will loosen up with movement.”
“Now you’re a doctor?” Her eyebrow rose along with her chin.
“In my line of work, injuries are a daily occurrence. We don’t have time for doctors, so we have all gotten handy at diagnosing ourselves.” He pulled her dress down and stood up. “You’ll be stiff tomorrow, but you’ll be able to bear weight, you’ll see.”
Nora fussed with her dress, doing her best to cover her legs again. It entertained him to see her so flustered. He was accustomed to being around women who spent more time taking off their clothes than covering up with them. Worrying so much about what people thought must be exhausting. For a moment he almost felt sorry for her, a prisoner to her own desires for fortune and status. If only she knew the joys life could hold when you followed your heart instead. Choosing adventure over money. Love over status. Love. Not like he knew a lot about that, he realized.
“It will be light in a few hours,” Viktor said, settling down beside the fire. “We should try to get some sleep.”
Nora looked around at the woods and the rocks surrounding them. “Where am I supposed to sleep?”
“Uh, right here next to the fire?” Viktor furrowed his brow and gestured to the dirt and needles around them.
“On the ground?”
“Yes, Baroness Aberdeen. On the ground. Or you can stay up all night, if you prefer. It’s no matter to me. I will be resting easy over here.”
Viktor leaned back, his head settling into clasped hands. He crossed his legs and closed his eyes. “Watch out for bears if you don’t come close to the fire. Snakes, too.”
Nora squealed. He smirked as he heard her shuffling over to the fire. The needles crinkled beside him as she settled in, her quick breathing echoing in his ear.
He rolled over, his back now facing hers. “Try not to snore. You’ll wake the deer.”
She huffed. “I don’t snore.”
“At least perhaps you’ll scare the bears away. Or maybe I should be concerned you’ll attract them when they think you’re one of their own.”
“Good night!” she spat.
He choked back his laughter as he listened to her flip over.
Birds chirped him awake. The forest flickered to life while the sunlight fought its way through the dense leaves and coaxed his eyes open. Viktor yawned, lifting his arms to stretch. He stiffened when he felt the weight of her pressed tight against his chest, her body curled up tight in the nook of his arm. Craning his neck, he saw her splayed against him, her fingers spread out clutching his chest, a pool of drool collecting on his stomach. Snores rolled out from her partially gaping rose-colored lips.
It was all he could do to keep from bursting into laughter. The proud lady draped across a pirate, drooling and snoring worse than Simon. The sight of her exposed and raw, her imperfections plain to see, endeared her to him even more. This side of Nora tugged at his heart and teased him to cast his good sense and independence out the window. He could imagine waking up to this sight every day.
Thick black lashes of her eyes batted open, revealing a startled expression when their gazes locked.
“Oh my,” she said, jerking up and out of his arms. “I didn’t mean to. I don’t know how I ended up there.”
“Blame it on my magnetism for women. Even in sleep, you are all powerless to resist me.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“I must have rolled over in the night, but I really didn’t mean to.” Her eyes looked everywhere but at him, the flush on her cheeks traveling down to her chest.
“Honestly, I’m surprised we are alive at all to wake up in such a precarious position.”
She stiffened, her eyes now searching their surroundings for threats. “What do you mean? Why? Who’s here?”
Viktor rolled up and wrapped his arms around his legs. “I mean, from the bears. I swear your snores were that of a mating call. Half of the forest must have fled for peace last night.”
Anger clouded the embarrassment swirling in her eyes. “I do not snore.”
“Well, love. I can’t prove the snoring, but I can prove the drooling.” Viktor leaned back and pointed to the wet spot that deepened the black of his shirt. “You’ve got a little dried there on your chin.” He wiggled a finger at her mouth.
Her hands flew to cover her mouth while she turned away. Viktor rolled with laughter while she rubbed at her chin, desperate to erase the proof of her unladylike sleeping habits.
“Well, I think it’s time we push off. If the bears haven’t found us yet, they’ll be here soon thanks to your mating calls.”
Nora peeked over her shoulder, an icy glare shooting in his direction.
“Come on, I’ll help you up.” He rose to his feet, an extended hand awaiting her grip. She looked up, the sternness in her face giving way to the faint trace of a smile. She chuckled, grabbing his hand and letting him pull her to her feet.
“Come on, love. Lean on me the first few steps. They’ll be the worst.”
He supported her weight while she took her first tentative steps. Agony twisted her face when she let her full weight push into her injured ankle. It would be a slow start, but it was only a few hours to his destination, even at her reduced pace. Just a few hours to a place he had sworn he would never return.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
EVEN THOUGH THE SUN passed the highest point in the sky hours ago, the summer heat blazed down on her, making her head throb even more than her injured ankle. Viktor was correct in his assessment that movement would be beneficial. The first fifteen minutes of their journey had been almost unbearable, but now she barely noticed the pain. The blisters on her feet, however, were another issue entirely.
“Are we almost there?” she asked. Between last night and today, she had spent at least six hours trudging across difficult, though beautiful terrain. Views of lush green meadows and forests with soaring trees, made up the majority of their trip.
“Much to your surprise, this twentieth time I’ve answered your question, the answer has changed. Yes, we are almost there. In fact, we are there.”
He came to a halt at the peak of the hill they had been scaling. Scrambling to join him, Nora grabbed a handful of stone as she crawled up the steepest part. Air trapped in her lungs when she stood up beside him and saw the beauty of the land unfold before her. If she squinted, the ocean came into view, a sandy beach contrasting with the dark waters.
A castle, larger than she was accustomed to seeing, nestled above the cliffs towering high above the ocean. Large stone walls stretched up toward the sky, green moss clinging to the grey s
tones and enveloping the architecture that must have been marvelous when it was at its peak.
Small servant’s homes, guest cottages, a few barns, and other buildings speckled the lush land surrounding it. The faint outline of a small village even further off in the distance pulled her eyes away for just a moment. The majestic castle beckoned them back, her jaw dropping as she finished taking it all in.
“Welcome to Castle Cadwalader.”
“It’s incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Viktor sighed, a sadness in his breath. She turned to see pain reflecting from his eyes as he stared across the land strewn before them.
“Where are we, Viktor?”
“We are on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. In Benllech to be exact. We landed on the opposite coast last night and crossed the entire isle on foot to be here. This castle will keep us safe while we await word from Charlie and John.”
“The castle? We’re staying there?” Nora gasped. “We’re going to trespass? Won’t someone notice and throw us out?”
“No. It’s been abandoned for years. No one will find us there. We’ll be safe.”
“How do you know about this place, Viktor?” She searched his face for answers. His jaw clenched and he inhaled a sharp breath.
“I grew up not far from here. The Isle of Anglesey is my homeland. I know it well. We will be safe here. No one in the world will know to look here. Not even Simon. Come on.”
Long strides pushed him from her side and started him down the hill. He walked with purpose while she struggled to keep pace behind him. Something here had caused him pain, something he didn’t want to face. Nora reeled, knowing she’d been the cause of his return to this land that obviously caused him distress and agony. More pain for Viktor at her hand. Causing him pain was the last thing she wanted, yet here she was doing it again.
They arrived at the overgrown path that led to the entrance of the courtyard, the only opening through the wall that surrounded it all. They stepped beneath the stone archway, a rusted metal gate suspended above their heads. Jagged stones crumbled from the walls, some of the towers having succumbed to neglect and lay in crumbled ruins atop the walkways. A squirrel darted out from a pile of rubble and scurried up the wall to a perch amongst the moss. His wary eyes watched them while they crossed the courtyard to the inner keep.
“Are you sure we won’t get in trouble for being here?” Nora whispered when they reached the large wooden door.
“I’m sure. Does it look like anyone is living here?”
One last glance around at the castle and grounds confirmed the truth of his words. At some point, this may have been the grandest estate in Wales. Now it smelled of must, and its dilapidated state radiated sadness. An inexplicable sorrow washed over her... something about this place pained her heart. It may have been the sad state of repair, or perhaps the ghosts of its past still haunted it. Agony hung in the air.
A long, slow creak echoed into the hall as Viktor pushed the wooden door open. Dust flew up and invaded her nose. Waving her hand, she coughed and followed him into the grey plume. Cloths covered the furniture, no colors or decorations broke the monotonous grays of the walls and the stone floor. She envisioned what this place must have looked like in its prime, though no trace of elegant tapestries or artwork were to be found. Either the original owners had taken everything when they fled, or thieves had plucked its valuables clean.
“This way.” Viktor led her down a corridor to a tower with stairs that coiled up several stories. When they reached the third story, he veered down the hallway to a dining room with a mahogany table still standing proud in the center. Even the layer of dust couldn’t hide the quality of the craftsmanship that must have been beautiful in its prime. Over twenty chairs wrapped around it, each carved with the same care as the table itself. She could almost hear the echoes of the parties that must have filled this room with joy once upon a time.
He moved on to the next room, a large sitting room with a massive fireplace built into the wall. “Here. This room will work.”
A cloud of dust enveloped her when he yanked the cloths from the couches and chairs scattered about the room. Beautiful burgundy velvet and silk came into view as the dust cleared. The bright fabrics, now free of dust, provided a stark contrast to the rest of the dark, gloomy room. She shuddered with chills in the damp air.
“Are you cold? It’s hot outside but it’s absolutely frigid in here, I’m afraid.”
“A little, although I must admit it’s a bit refreshing after that long walk.”
“Make yourself comfortable. I’ll fetch some water and some firewood. The sun will set soon and the chill in here will be anything but refreshing. Just stay in here. Don’t wander off.” He shot her an accusatory look.
“I will sit on this chaise and not move until your return,” she promised, sitting down on the large velvet lounger behind her.
“Lay back, rest your feet, and I’ll be back soon.”
She watched him go. A wave of panic washed through her when he disappeared down the hall. She was alone in this room. It was creepy, almost haunted feeling, though she didn’t believe in ghosts. If she had, she likely would have run after Viktor rather than sitting here alone, and for a moment she considered it.
While he wasn’t gone long, a huge sigh of relief still slipped out when he walked back into the room. The firewood stacked to his chin threatened to fall while he knelt beside the fireplace. Echoes of the wood tumbling onto the floor bounced off the empty walls of the expansive room.
“Did I miss anything exciting while I was gone?” he asked, stacking the firewood into the dusty old fireplace.
“Not a thing. I didn’t move. As promised.” She smiled.
“I see that. I’m impressed. I worried I might return to have you taken off and already boarded onto another ship.”
“Viktor...”
“I’m teasing, Nora. I’m glad you stayed.” A spark flew from his flint and ignited the dried kindling stacked beneath the logs. With a little coaxing he blew it into a sizable flame. “The sun is setting. It’s going to get awfully cold in here soon.”
She peeked out the window behind her. The sky glowed with warm, colorful hues. Climbing off the chaise, she walked to the window where she could see straight to the ocean down below. The dark waves drummed on the shore, their percussion just audible as she strained to listen. Clouds lit up pink with the radiance of the shining orb that descended into the dark waters below. As it touched the horizon, the sky illuminated red, everything in sight absorbing the color and reflecting it back. A competition of nature’s artists, each striving to outshine the other, each accomplishing great beauty as their colors collided and swirled into a scene too beautiful for any painter to capture.
“It’s beautiful,” he whispered, stepping up behind her.
Nora exhaled the breath she hadn’t noticed she held. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” She wrapped her arms around herself, the chill setting in. Her hands rubbed the soft leather of his coat while she stroked her upper arms.
“Here, I’ll trade you.”
A shudder moved through her when she felt Viktor’s hands slide over her shoulders and grip the collar of his coat. It slid off her body, a shiver snaking up her spine, though she wasn’t sure if it was from the chill in the air or the touch of his skin when it brushed against hers. A soft wool blanket wrapped around her body, his arms closing around her shoulders as he closed it in front of her. When she reached up to pull it closed, her hand landed on top of his. She felt his body freeze in sync with hers. His breath blew through her hair and he pressed in closer, his body hovering just behind her, her own begging for him to close the gap and press himself down the length of her. She tried to will her hand to release his, but it disobeyed and squeezed tighter instead.
Viktor held fast, his breath quickening in her ear. She remembered the moment they had on the beach, the fire in his eye when she looked back to see him. She had to know if that look wa
s still there or if the hatred he now felt for her had erased it for good. She tipped her head to meet his gaze. Desire dripped from the depths of his eyes when he caught her own and held them his prisoner. Her lips parted, her breath quickening as she melted into his embrace. He leaned down to her lips that were begging to be captured again.
“Nora,” he whispered, his breath tickling her waiting lips. “I...” She felt his body freeze. “I can’t.”
She gasped as his lips receded. Her own tried to follow when he pulled back, releasing her from his embrace.
“I’m sorry. I can’t. I can’t go through this again only to have you leave. I won’t.” Anger tipped his tongue as he finished.
“Viktor, I’m sorry.” She spun to meet him. Pain, anger and lust collided in his eyes. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“But you will, Nora. You will use me, enrapture me, and then at the first opportunity, bolt back to your old life, your despicable husband, and all your money. You will leave me again without a thought the first chance you get. You will sell yourself, your body, your sex... your soul, for money. For titles. And I can’t go through that again.”
“You make me sound like a prostitute.” She choked back her tears.
“Aren’t you, though?” Anger shot from his eyes, his look and his words piercing her soul. “You lay beneath a man you hate night after night, submit to his abuse, and you do it all for money. You are no different than Vivian and the other whores. The only real difference is they are honest about their profession, you on the other hand, hide behind your gowns and your title. But deep down, you are no different than them... you just charge a higher price is all.”
Beneath The Assassin's Touch (Daggers 0f Desire Book 2) Page 14
