His hand curled into a fist, angry with himself for even considering it.She doesn’t want you, or any man. And never will.The pain she’d suffered went too deep. Wanting to be with her, as a lover, was asking too much.
A faint noise caught his attention, and Trahern remained still. Against the flickering torches, he spied a hunched figure searching among the huts. He couldn’t tell who it was, so he crept closer.
The man was cloaked in dark wool, with a roped belt around his waist. He leaned heavily upon a walking stick, and when the moon slid out from behind a cloud, Trahern recognized Brother Chrysoganus.
Now what was the monk searching for, so late at night? The souterrain entrance, perhaps? Fallen coins, left behind?
Trahern moved swiftly, catching the monk unawares. Brother Chrysoganus jerked backwards, shivering with a nervous laugh. “Why, Trahern. You startled me.”
“Were you looking for something?” He didn’t bother to hide the edge in his voice. The monk was trespassing where he shouldn’t, and he wanted to know why.
“No. Well, yes, I suppose. It’s probably nothing, but I thought I’d help them search.”
Trahern moved close enough to rest his hand upon his sword. “And what were you looking for?”
“It wasn’t a what, my friend. It’s a who. Katla alerted us and asked for help.” The monk cleared his throat and wiped at his forehead with his sleeve.
Trahern felt a sense of dread creeping over him, even before Brother Chrysoganus finished.
“Morren Ó Reilly has gone missing. And no one has seen her.”
Chapter Thirteen
Itwasn’tatallwhat he’d expected the man to say. “How long has it been?”
“Half an hour, so she said. Katla claimed Morren left the hut and hasn’t returned.” The monk shrugged. “I was speaking with her sister Jilleen beforehand, and when we returned, Morren was gone. I thought I’d join in the search over here. I suppose you haven’t seen her, either?”
Trahern shook his head. Without bothering to say farewell to the monk, he ran back toward the women’s hut. When he saw Jilleen’s stricken face, his fear trebled, for nothing would make Morren leave her sister.
“I only left for a few moments,” Jilleen wept. “I wanted to see Brother Chrysoganus, to seek penance for-for . . . what I did. And when I returned, Morren was gone.”
Trahern studied each member of the tribe, Irish and Norse alike. When he realized that Adham was also gone, a tight rage settled in his stomach.
While he’d been mourning Ciara, the bastard had taken Morren. Trahern allowed the fury to flare within, along with the unfailing vow to find her.
And God help Adham Ó Reilly, when he did.
“WhereisJilleen?”Morrenmuttered to herself, her worry knotting within. Her sister had slipped away during the storytelling, and no one knew where she’d gone. Morren had left the women’s hut to look for her, and Adham had offered to accompany her. When her efforts came up fruitless, he’d promised to walk back with her.
“Do you think she could have fallen into the souterrain passage?” he offered. “It may be that she lost her footing and fell into the pit.”
“No,” she shook her head. “Jilleen had no reason to be near the souterrain.”
“We’ve searched everywhere else,” he said, shrugging. “And what if she struck her head or harmed herself? She wouldn’t be able to cry out for help.”
Though it seemed doubtful, she supposed they shouldn’t leave without searching the souterrain passageway. “All right.”
She went down the ladder first, shivering at the cold. Adham followed, bringing the torch. Though it cast a small heat, she couldn’t stop the chill flooding through her. “She’s not here.” The unbearable pressure of fear heightened. “Where could she have gone?”
“We’ll find her, Morren,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” He put his arm around her shoulders, and she flinched.
You’re being foolish,she told herself.He’s just trying to offer you warmth.
But she couldn’t bear the thought of his body so close to hers. And wasn’t that unreasonable, given that she’d huddled so near to Trahern?
She pulled back and was about to climb the ladder. “Wait, Morren.”
Adham reached out to touch her hair, and a cold wave of revulsion shuddered through her. “You’re so beautiful. I wanted to tell you that.”
