“Strian,” she grumbled.
“I know, my love, but I can’t help myself.”
“No one will be in doubt of that.” Gressa’s brow furrowed. “There’s at least one woman aboard this ship who would gladly ease your discomfort. And I don’t mean me.”
Gressa finished with a scowl, but Strian looked at her with genuine confusion.
“What are you talking about?”
“There’s a woman who has been glaring at me since you called for a break. At first, I thought she was angry that it’s my fault we have to chase Grímr, but when you stood next to me and touched me, I could feel as much as see her hatred. Who is she to you?”
Gressa steeled herself for Strian’s answer, her stomach churning nonetheless. She thought they were past having doubts over each other’s actions while they were apart, but now she questioned whether Strian had told her the truth.
“I don’t know who you mean. Honestly, Gressa. You look as though you’re questioning everything I told you about our time apart. You look like you don’t believe me or trust me.” Gressa turned her gaze back to Strian after looking at his shoulder, as though she could see through it to the other woman. She saw the hurt her doubt was causing him, and her own doubts quietened.
“Was there a woman who wanted you more than any of the others? One who tried to make you forget me?” Strian froze, and Gressa felt his body go rigid. Her fears flooded her. “There was.”
It was Strian’s turn to see hurt floating in Gressa’s eyes. He leaned forward so their foreheads touched, and they were nose to nose.
“There was one woman who was more persistent than the others.” Strian knew he would regret the next thing he said. “Even after your return.”
Gressa tried to pull away, but Strian’s grip was like steel.
“Wait. You’ve asked, now you’ll hear the truth. All of it. Her name is Betje, and she has pursued me. Ivar once tried to arrange a marriage to her when he thought a new wife would help me move past you. It was one of the few times I have ever yelled at our jarl, but I said vicious things about him and his part in leaving you behind. I refused to even consider it, but he had already spoken to her parents and arranged everything. I disappeared into the hills until after the wedding was supposed to take place. I humiliated her by not going through with the marriage. When I returned two weeks after we were to marry, Ivar insisted that I go through with it. He even forced me to the altar. The ceremony began, but I wouldn’t speak. I turned my back on her in front of the entire village, once more shaming her. Gressa, I didn’t want her because I never believed our marriage ended. I didn’t want it to be over. Besides that, I didn’t, don’t, trust her. One of the few times we were alone together, she threatened to burn all of your belongings and anything that could remind me of you. The vile things she said about you was what finally convinced Ivar that she and I were ill suited for one another. It was the one and only time anyone tried to make me remarry.”
“And she is still angry. How long ago was this?”
“About three years ago.”
“That long? You know she will try to kill me. She may not want you anymore, or perhaps she does, but she won’t want me to have you if she can’t.”
“I think you’re exaggerating a bit. She must know of my warning. No one’ll be foolish enough to touch a hair on your head.”
“You don’t understand women,” she scoffed. “Her grudge, her need to avenge her honor, will have burned deeper in her than it could in any man.”
“Then I’ll order her from my crew.”
Gressa did not speak. She knew that would provide her with safety while they sailed, but it would only insult the woman more.
“Gressa?”
“I don’t know. Neither her going nor staying will make this go away. One will keep me alive for now while it only makes her anger fester, and the other makes me her victim sooner.”
“Stay near me then. Sleep only beside me and don’t walk around without me or my first mate with you.”
“I can defend myself, Strian. That won’t make this problem go away.”
The days at sea were long and tiring, but the gods smiled in their favor with strong and continuous winds. There were only short periods when the rowers were needed. Strian was true to his word, despite Gressa’s objections, and kept her close to his side. He witnessed the hostility Gressa described when he kissed Gressa in front of Betje. He had cracked one eye open as he devoured Gressa only to catch Betje clutching the hilt of her knife and baring her teeth. Despite Gressa’s protests, Strian refused to allow the woman to remain on his ship. He arranged for Tyra and Bjorn to take the woman since she had both a brother and a sister sailing for the couple. Strian feared other members of his crew harbored a secret animosity to Gressa, and so he was her shadow.
It was on the ninth day that they caught their first sight of the Scottish Highland coast. Their longboats sailed into the Firth of Tongue until they anchored in the natural harbor below the Mackay keep, Castle Varrich. They received a warm welcome from Lorna’s cousin, the laird.
Gressa watched as a handsome and charming man who resembled Erik but with darker hair greeted his extended family with warm embraces and hearty laughter. Erik’s snarl was jovial when Alex Mackay turned his sights on Freya who returned the Highlander’s flirting. Bjorn was not as gracious when Alex moved on to greeting Tyra. He stepped in front of his wife when Alex opened his arms for an embrace, but Alex clapped Bjorn on the back with a jest no one else but Tyra and Bjorn could hear. Gressa watched as Alex grew solemn for his introduction to Leif and Sigrid. The man had a clear respect for Sigrid, and Gressa was sure it was because the Highlanders appreciated the gift of second sight nearly as much as the Norse, even if they were more superstitious about it. When Alex finally turned towards Strian and her, his flirtatious grin was back in place.
“Another beautiful woman to meet. I think I may return with you to find a wife among your people. Unless you have brought one for me to meet already.” Alex’s smile was pleasant, but there was a sensuously wicked gleam in his eye. Strian wrapped his arm around Gressa possessively, and Alex’s eyes widened in recognition then his brow furrowed. “So, you kept your slave.”
Strian pushed Gressa behind him, but she tried to peer around his shoulder.
“That woman is my wife. She was when I found her. There is more to the story than I’m willing to share here but have no doubt that she isnotavailable.”
