He agreed with her on that point, though he knew that he was not yet physically strong enough to defeat Leif. The moon was waning crescent, and despite the time he’d spent with the Viking men, he would have to rely on strategy instead of force.
He laced his fingers with Katarina’s and signaled for the other Vikings to join them. This was the fight they had been expecting.
But he questioned whether he could win.
Katarina was grateful that Eric was leading the men to bring back her brother, though inwardly, her stomach clenched with apprehension. Her only consolation was knowing that Hrafn was not dead. If their enemy had intended to kill him, she would have found his body instead of the wolf pelt.
Even so, it unnerved her to think that whoever had done this had moved with stealth and cunning, sneaking past the guards into Dalla’s longhouse. How had he taken her brother without making a sound?
She stood back as Eric assembled the men. Her husband moved with purpose and determination, and they followed his orders without question. As she watched him, she saw the man who had fought to earn their respect, the man who had sworn to protect her…and the man who had become her lover. No longer did she fear their joining, and her cheeks flushed at the memory of how he had pleasured her this afternoon. It made her realize that her fear for Hrafn was only a fraction of how she would feel if something happened to Eric. Somehow this man had stolen his way into her heart, no matter that he was not Arik Thorgrim. His very presence was a mystery, but she believed without question that they were meant to be together.
Svala moved to her side. “I will come with you.” Katarina wasn’t surprised that the woman had offered to join them. She wanted to be near Eric, even if it meant she was interfering.
“You are not needed,” she told her. “Stay here with the other women.”
“Why?” Svala asked softly. “Do I make you uncomfortable?” The knowing look on her face was irritating, and Katarina shrugged.
“If you want to be endangered, I care not.” She turned her back, trying to shrug away the jealousy. Although she knew there was no relationship between her husband and Svala, she could not help comparing herself. Instead, she allowed her worry for Hrafn to push away all else. Her brother’s life was more important than her bitterness toward this woman.
Eric approached them, but he ignored Svala. “Katarina, stay among the men. I want you surrounded by warriors on all sides.” On his left arm he carried a wooden shield, and he had both a sword and a battle-ax sheathed at his waist.
Svala intervened, handing a dark woolen wrap to Katerina. She wore one of a different color and said, “Wear this. It will be cold tonight.”
She didn’t trust the woman’s offering and was about to deny it, but Eric shrugged. “You might as well be warm.” He moved to her and drew it around her shoulders and over her head, bringing her close.
Katarina lifted her gaze to his. “Be safe, Arik.”
He leaned in and kissed her lightly. “I will.” The affection was a silent reassurance that warmed her heart, for he would do everything possible to bring back her brother. He returned to the front and spoke to his father for a moment before they all took torches and walked outside.
As they continued toward the shoreline, Svala caught her arm. “I want to talk with you.”
“I have no interest in hearing what you have to say.” Especially when it involved the woman’s interest in her husband. But she refused to be intimidated by her.
“Do you want him to live?” Svala asked quietly. “If the choice was yours, to sacrifice yourself for Arik’s sake, would you do this?”
“What do you mean? Why would you ask such a thing?” Outside, the night was clouded, obscuring the moon. A coldness lingered in the air, and she wondered if Svala had something to do with her brother’s disappearance.
She stopped walking and stared hard at the woman. The other warriors glanced back but continued on, leaving them at the settlement. “What is it you have not told me?”
“I know that Leif is here. He has come for you.”
It wasn’t surprising, and she had already guessed this. “I care not about him. I am married to Arik, and I intend to remain his wife.”
Svala’s tone turned cool. “And do you think Leif will let you go so easily? He is a proud man, and he will kill Arik by any means.” Her face turned serious. “I don’t want Arik to die any more than you do. But I fear for his life. You hold the power to save him.”
“By giving myself up to Leif, is that it? You want me to surrender myself so thatyoucan leave with Arik?” The woman’s suggestion was ludicrous.
Svala shrugged. “If his life is about to end, you could plead for mercy. Leif might listen to you.”
Katrina had no intention whatsoever of giving up. “Arik will defeat Leif. I hold faith in that.”
The young woman’s mouth twisted in a sneer. “I saw him on the training field earlier. You’re wrong if you believe he can kill a warrior like Leif.”
“Did you come here with him?” she asked. It would not surprise her if the pair of them were working together.
Svala shook her head. “He was already here. He has been watching you.” Her attention centered on something behind her, and the hair on Katarina’s nape stood on end. She knew without looking, who was standing there.
Footsteps approached, and when she turned, she saw the man of her nightmares, Leif Tormundsson. He wore leather armor, and the skin on his forearms was marred with burns. His eyes narrowed up on her face with a knowing gleam.
