Growling, he thought of all the ways that it could have gone wrong. He would have to find a way to punish his female for that little transgression.
But first—he glanced down at her, heart clenching—he would have to gain her trust. Once he had it, there would be no stopping him. He would claim her, and she would be his to do with as he pleased.
Once and for all.
CHAPTER
5
The sound of rushing water awoke her.
Blinking in the dim light, Nyra took a few moments to regain her senses as she sat up, searching her surroundings.
Domed stone ceilings with the occasional foliage hanging down from holes in a collapsed roof stretchedas far and high as the eye could see, the surface rough and sharp where the stone peeked through. Stalactites with lush flora by the hundreds decorated the vast space, the pale streams of moonlight streaking in through the dolines giving the entire place an almost enchanting aura.
Stone boulders of varying sizes were scattered across the endless floor. One in particular caught Nyra’s eye, its flat yet impossibly massive size reminding her of a bed. A giant’s bed. Tall trees and soft grass covered the ground, giving her the undeniable feeling of being in a forest of sorts. Except, it didn’t make any sense. She was in a cave.
The rushing of water reached her again, the sound so foreign in the underground chamber that she had to shake her head just to make sure her ears weren’t playing a trick on her.
“You’re not imagining things, wildling,” the brooding warrior’s smoky voice came from behind her. “That’s a waterfall that you’re hearing.”
Stunned, she turned to look up at him. “But how is that possible? We’re underground.”
Crouching down in front of her, he studied her with his piercing blue gaze. “Yes, deep in the belly of the Kruka Mountains.”
“What?!” her mouth gaped open. “That’s days worth of walking! How long have been I asleep? How the hell did we get here?”
“Not long,” pause, “I carried you.”
Laughter exploded around them. “You must think I’m bloody stupid.”
“I’d prefer to call it very close-minded.”
She scoffed. “You’re an ass, you know that?”
“Yes, but a very handsome one.” His pearly whites made an appearance, eyes glinting with amusement.
“And annoying as fuck.”
His grin widened, tempting Nyra to smack it right off his beautiful face. “That’s not a word I’d use to describe my fucking.”
“How humble of you. I’m sure the ladies throw themselves off a cliff once you’re done with them.”
A chuckle, and then, “I had to save quite a number of them, actually. You can’t imagine the lengths some women would go just to remain in my bed.”
She rolled her eyes.But of course.“I’m sure that’s just so that they can set it on fire, since they can’t exactly wipe the memory of your giant naked body from their brain.”
He bit his lower lip, as if restraining a laugh. “I’m very unforgettable, wildling.”
“And very arrogant, it would seem.”
“You love it.”
“I prefer men whose heads aren’t on the verge of exploding.”
He smirked, the bastard. “No one’s ever complained about the size of my head before.”
Ignoring the obvious innuendo, she said, “Clearly, there’s something very wrong with them.”
