Odin’s beard… she truly thinks I’d hurt her.
The realization cut deeper than it should have. He’d saved her life. Offered her books and paints. Shown her secret passages in case she needed to flee. And still, she looked at him like he was the monster they all claimed him to be.
Maybe he was.
“Come.” He reached for her again, more gently this time, but she flinched back.
“Dinnae touch me.”
“I’m takin’ ye back tae yer chambers.” Erik forced patience into his tone, though his jaw ached from clenching it. “Ye shouldnae be wanderin’ the castle at night. ‘Tis nae safe.”
“Nae safe from what?” She backed away another step. “From ye?”
The accusation landed like a fist to his gut. “From corridors that drop off intae darkness. From gods-damned drafts that could give ye lung fever.” He stalked forward, crowding her against the stone wall. “But aye, Claricia. If ye want tae believe I’m the danger here, then by all means, keep wanderin’ intae places I’ve warned ye away from.”
“I told ye, I gotlost?—”
“And I’m tellin’ ye I dinnae believe it.” He loomed over her, using his size to intimidate because words clearly weren’t working.“But whether ye’re lyin’ or simply too stubborn tae admit when ye’re wrong, it daesnae matter. Ye’re nae stayin’ here.”
Before she could protest further, Erik bent and hauled her up over his shoulder in one smooth motion.
“Put medown!” Claricia shrieked, pounding her fists against his back. “Ye brute! Ye savage! Put me down this instant!”
He ignored her, striding away from the North Wing with long, purposeful steps. Behind him, he heard the faint sound of something hitting the floor inside the interrogation room.
“I swear by all that’s holy, Erik Thorsen, if ye dinnae put me down?—”
“What?” He shifted her weight, one arm banded across the back of her thighs. Heat seared through his palm where it rested against her. “What will ye dae, little bird? Ye’re half me size and already caught.”
She went perfectly still at that, which was somehow worse than her struggles. He could feel her heartbeat racing where her body pressed against his shoulder. Could feel the rapid rise and fall of her breathing.
“I hate ye,” she whispered.
“Aye,” Erik agreed, his voice rougher than he intended. “Ye’ve mentioned.”
He carried her through the winding corridors, ignoring the startled looks from servants.
When he reached her chambers, he shouldered the door open and set her down with more care than his anger warranted. She stumbled back immediately, putting distance between them, her chest heaving.
“Ye had nae right?—”
“I haveeveryright.” Erik stepped forward, backing her toward the bed until her knees hit the mattress. “Tomorrow, ye’ll be me wife. Bound tae me by law and crown and kirk. And until then—until I ken fer certain that ye’re safe—ye’ll follow me commands. Understood?”
“I’m nae one of yer warriors tae be ordered about like?—”
“Understood?” He repeated, softer now, but with iron beneath the question.
Claricia’s eyes blazed with fury and something else. Something that made his blood heat and his hands itch to touch her. “Aye,” she bit out. “Understood.”
“Good.” He forced himself to step back and put space between them. “Stay here. Lock the door. Dinnae open it fer anyone but me or Liv.”
“Why?” The question came out smaller, uncertain. “What’s happenin’, Erik?”
She already knew about the very real danger that someone wanted her specifically. They had talked about it on their ride. And he wanted to tell her about the prisoner, the threats. But trusting her with that information felt like weakness. Like giving her a weapon she could use against him.
“Just dae as I say.” He turned toward the door. “Please.”
The word hung in the air between them, unexpected and raw.
