He led her back into the cave and bade her to sit against the far wall, beside Kata. "If I must bind your feet as well, I will."
She said nothing. He turned and continued packing, pausing every now and then to look at her, as if to reassure himself she obeyed. If only she did dare try once again to flee, but not yet. Soon. Caution and concentration must remain her guides, watching and waiting for the right chance to make her move. After the packs had been filled and closed, the last of the fire covered with dirt, he came and knelt before her.
"I must tend Gyllir." He removed another rope from his belt and reached for her ankle.
She kicked his hand away. "Bastard! I didn't try to run!"
"I can't trust you to stay when I am out of sight."
She kicked again, catching him on the shoulder. With a blistering oath that singed her ears, he reached for her ankle again, this time succeeding in capturing it. Though she had little leverage, she raised her free leg, only to find he anticipated her move and caught her. Soon, her legs were bound together. He pulled on the rope trailing from her bound wrists and fed it through the rope around her ankles, securing the knot behind her, where she couldn't reach it.
"Vile, disgusting jackass!"
He stood, his shout of laughter echoing in the cave. "Don't go wandering." He laughed again and strode out of cave. For several moments, Thora stared after him, stunned with the quick way he'd secured her and his callous attitude.
The brush of fur against her cheek drew her attention to Kati. The wolf whined, nudging her head with his. In this bent position, Thora couldn't pet him. Instead, she leaned her forehead against his soft fur.
"Kati, what am I going to do?"
He whined again and lay across her feet. Her fingers curled in his coat, calming her anger, at least a little. Only now, something rose in its place, something that threatened to leave her struggling to breathe.
Pain. Ari had lied to her. Used her. After these last several days where they'd reached an accord, and shared passion surely only the gods had ever tasted, she'd begun to believe he truly cared. The harsh and bitter truth roiled her gut. For a moment, she found herself thankful they'd not yet eaten today, for surely she would expel anything she consumed.
Tears burned her eyes but she refused to let them fall. Clenching her jaw in the effort to hold back the sadness caused by the agony slicing through her heart, she took several large breaths, finally satisfied she had the weak emotion under control.
He'd used her, yes, and now she would use him. She'd occasionally seen a flash of regret in his intense stare. An idea sparked and grew, solidifying. A way to be free of him, using that regret to her advantage. She glanced over at Kata. The she-wolf healed further each day. In two or three more days, her strength should be fully restored as well.
Enduring the coming days would be a true test of Thora's own strength, but she knew the wicked pleasure Ari stirred gave her power over him as well. She'd take everything he gave her and hold the memories for a long time to come. If only he cared for her as more than a means for vengeance, but that was a foolish and dangerous hope. For if he did, she might never have the courage to leave.
Perhaps that frightened her most of all.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Long hours of holding Thora before him again left Ari aching with need. He'd refrained from tormenting her as he had the last time they'd ridden like this. He wasn't sure why, his fingers itched to make her writhe against him and beg for her pleasure. But something warned him that her already frayed senses might not withstand any more conflicting emotions. He found himself unwilling to break her, and if he didn't ease up, he surely would.
Yet, when he'd returned to unbind her, the fury in her dark eyes warned he must use caution around her. The trust he'd garnered had been shattered once she'd learned his true identity. Remorse mingled with the need to show he was unmoved by her hurt. He'd kept up a callous expression and mood since they'd set off once more, but maintaining the pretense grew more difficult with each step Gyllir took.
Why did he care? She was meant to be used as a tool in his revenge, but somehow, the feisty wolf mistress had ensnared him in a way that left him doubting himself in so many ways. Was he weak to care so much for her feelings? He'd learned long ago not to trust anyone, yet here he was practically forgetting his goals all so he could slake his desires with the woman before him. A sharp, twisting pinch on his arm drew him from the troubling thoughts and he let out a growl of pain.
"You're squeezing me too tight! I can't breathe!"
With a snap back to clarity, he eased the arm around her waist, but offered no apology, allowing his annoyance to rise again. His behavior was all her fault. At least, he tried to convince himself of that. Several days ago, he hadn't even known her. What would have happened if he hadn't come upon her with those outlaws? His heart squeezed at the possibilities.
Perhaps meeting his brother had contributed to this uneasiness and fierce need to keep Thora safe. Doing so had been a priority since the day he'd saved her, but only because he wasn't finished claiming the debt she owed. But now... somehow, this need had grown deeper, more intense. As if losing her to his brother would devastate him more than being cast out of his home. When had she become more important than his clan, his reputation? Showing such concern was a weakness, one easily exploited if he didn't control the pandemonium destroying all coherent thought.
He glanced skyward. Soon, Sol's chariot would begin its descent, allowing Máni to rise and resume his flight across the starlit sky. Ari wanted to have their camp made, but so far had seen nothing suitable for their needs.
"There!" Thora sat up, her bound arms outstretched.
Ari reined Gyllir to a halt and peered in the direction she indicated. Sure enough, another cave carved into the side of a mountain lay not more than several paces to their right. Smart girl.
"Thank you. My father taught me well." The pleased note in her tone sent a shiver along Ari's spine. He hadn't realized he'd spoken aloud. And he wasn't sure he regretted it.
He forced himself to ignore her excitement, assuming it meant only that she could be away from him once they camped. He guided Gyllir to the mouth of the cave. Though not as secluded as the other, it still looked to provide adequate shelter for them both and the wolves. For now. His journey must resume in a short time. Not willing to focus on the other factors of his quest at the moment, he dismounted and unsheathed his sword, cautiously daring a few steps into the hole in the mountain. Perhaps slightly larger, the cave appeared very similar to the one they'd fled this morning. He faced Thora.
"I'll inspect it."
"Of course." She grabbed the edge of the saddle with her bound hands and swung her leg over, sliding to the ground before he moved to offer assistance. "Light a torch."
