Iseult’snerveshungbya thread. She couldn’t stop herself from shaking. Her cheek throbbed from where the raider had struck her, and Kieran walked so far ahead, it was as though he wanted to be rid of her. Her eyes welled up with unshed tears.
She shouldn’t care that he’d refused to hold her. She should be grateful that he’d kept sight of his honor—and hers. But when she’d awakened, his expression held worry, as if hedidcare about her. It had felt so good to be with Kieran and know that she was safe. She’d wanted to sink her face into his shoulder, to weep and feel his strength. Instead, he’d pushed her away.
Her mind twisted with confusion. She had never been so frightened in all her life. Though Kieran had defended her from the enemy tribesmen, she’d never been a victim before. If he hadn’t been there, she truly would have been taken. The Blessed Virgin only knew what could have happened to her.
Davin’s numerous warnings about never venturing forth alone suddenly crystallized. She didn’t know what had come over her when she’d followed Kieran into the forest alone.
But after she’d seen him standing there at the gates, demanding the right to cut the wood he’d needed, she’d spoken to the guard without thinking. Her mind and impulse had separated, for there had been no apparent reason for her to be involved. Only the deep sense that she needed to help him, no matter that it was wrong.
Had she wanted to be alone with him? Had she agreed to accompany him, with thoughts that it might lead to something else? She didn’t know herself anymore. Ever since the kiss between them, she’d felt her sensibilities coming apart. Kieran tempted her in ways she’d never known. And God help her, she was afraid of the way he made her feel.
She couldn’t let herself falter. Honor bound her to another man. She took a deep breath, clearing her mind. It didn’t matter what her reckless heart wanted.
Kieran waited outside the gates of the ringfort. He’d gone to retrieve his wood and had balanced the heavy oak log upon one shoulder, the yew branch in the other hand. She didn’t know why he needed it, but he treated the precious wood as though it were a prized possession.
Swallowing hard, she crossed through the gates. And ran straight into Davin.
“Where in the name of Lug have you been?” he demanded. Then he stared at the bruising on her cheek, and his face transformed into rage. When Kieran entered the ringfort, Davin smashed his fist into the side of Kieran’s jaw. The wood clattered to the ground. Kieran straightened, his eyes cold.
“No!” Iseult protested, trying to put herself between them. This was her fault, not his.
Davin pushed her away. “I’ll kill the bastard for touching you.” His face sharpened with hatred, and he struck another blow at Kieran’s ribs. Kieran grunted from the pain but made no move to strike back. Instead, his expression remained empty. Almost as though he were accepting a punishment.
“He protected me from the Sullivan tribesmen,” Iseult said, grabbing Davin’s wrist. “They came on a raid. If it weren’t for Kieran, I’d have been their hostage.”
“You shouldn’t have been out there to begin with,” Davin bit out, a vein pulsing in his neck. “Neither of you had permission to leave.”
“And when didIbecome your prisoner?“ Iseult demanded. Though she understood his anger, he had no right to give her orders.
“You are under my protection. If that means keeping you confined, so be it.”
Her mouth dropped open in disbelief. Never had she seen Davin behave like this, with such anger. He wasn’t going to see reason, so she turned her back on both of them and strode toward Muirne’s hut. If she remained, she’d say things she’d later regret.
But then Davin’s next words stopped her short. “Bind him. He can spend the remainder of the day at the mound of hostages. No man leaves the ringfort without my permission.”
Scalding anger rose up inside her veins. How could he do this, when Kieran had been the one to rescue her?
Iseult turned back and approached Davin. “I want a word with you.”
“Go and see Deena. Let her tend your face and we’ll speak this evening.”
“What you’re doing to Kieran isn’t right. He protected me.”
Davin’s mouth tightened, and he took her wrist, guiding her toward the palisade wall where they could speak alone. “Why are you defending a slave who endangered you? You had no reason to leave the ringfort.”
“He needed wood. I saw no harm in—“
“But you did come to harm, didn’t you?” He crossed his arms and let her see the full brunt of his fury. “The Norsemen are only a day’s ride from here. It isn’t safe. If Kieran hadn’t saved you from becoming a hostage, I’d have sentenced him to death.” His words were an icy threat.
“I offered to accompany him.” Iseult kept her voice even, despite her frustration. “Will you punish me as well, for defying your orders?”
“You were alone for several hours with a male slave.”
He was jealous. She saw that now, and her face flushed. It made her feel even lower than she already did. If Davin even suspected her attraction to Kieran, he would be merciless. He could never know about the kiss.
“Nothing happened,” she answered honestly. “He found the wood he needed.”
Unexpectedly, he drew her into a possessive embrace. “I don’t want anything to happen to you, Iseult. We will be under attack in a few days. Promise me you won’t leave the ringfort again.”
