Alaunus leapt from the bed, dragging her to her feet. “You are right. In his desperation to see me wed to the woman of his choice, he would likely make a grave mistake such as that. An offense that would have me kill him.”
She tried to wrest herself from his grasp, but Alaunus held her fast with one hand and reached for her clothes with another.
“Dress,” he insisted. “We will walk to the next village and have their chieftain marry us.”
“No!” she cried, finally pulling herself free and knowing that her flesh would be bruised the next day. “You cannot force this upon me.”
“I can and I will if you refuse to see reason,” Alaunus growled, looming over her as if he intended to throw her over his shoulder and carry her to the next village if she did not comply.
“Reason?” she cried. “How is it unreasonable for me to ask that you deal with the problem of Rhiannon and her father gently? One day you will lead this village and the surrounding lands. If you wish to do a good job of it, then you should learn the art of discussion and peaceful resolution!”
Alaunus made it clear that he would no longer argue with her by grabbing her dress and yanking it over her head. While she worked to slide her arms into the sleeves, he hastily dressed himself.
“Let us go,” he commanded, taking her arm again.
Her already abused flesh flared with pain at his grip and she gasped loudly. “You are hurting me!”
He dropped her arm, staring at her with wide eyes. Then he lifted the hem of her sleeve to reveal the pale skin of her upper arm and the angry red imprint of his fingers rapidly deepening to purple.
“Goddess, I hurt you,” he murmured, smoothing his fingers gently over her arm. “I am sorry, Aveta.”
Unbidden tears welled in her eyes. “I cannot go with you, Fin. Not tonight. You have a responsibility to your father, to Rhiannon, and the people of the village. Speak with your family, and Rhiannon’s. If you are still certain that you want me as your wife after that, then we shall be married.”
The hard look left his beautiful hazel eyes as he watched the tears trickle down her cheeks. Moving slowly, he took her into his arms, holding her close. His touch was once again gentle and adoring.
“I do not want to be parted from you,” he murmured in her ear. “I fear that you will vanish if I let you out of my sight.”
“I will be here, waiting for you,” she reassured him. “I only want to do what is right. If we begin our marriage by defying your father, I fear that your standing with him, and with the village, will never recover.”
“I do not care about the village,” he replied harshly. “I am only willing to lead because no one else will.” He released a long breath. “But I do not want my father to resent you, so I shall do what you ask.”
She rested her cheek against his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heart. “Thank you,” she sighed.
He set her away from him, his hands still light. “But if I do not leave now, I will stay all night. That would certainly scandalize my father.”
Aveta smiled. “I understand.”
“I will speak to him this evening and Rhiannon’s father tomorrow morning. Expect me tomorrow afternoon. We will be married the day after.”
Rising up on her toes, she kissed him. “I shall be ready.”
Alaunus groaned and embraced her tightly, his mouth opening over hers. For a wild moment, Aveta thought that he would take her where they stood.
At last, he released her, holding her steady when her weakened legs threatened to collapse.
He grinned happily at her. “Just think. In two days, I can kiss you as much as I like.”
Aveta smiled back, watching wordlessly as he disappeared into the deepening twilight.
She could not shake the ominous feeling that danger lay in wait for Alaunus, and for her. Or the fear that Alaunus’ father, Bran, would take steps to see her driven from his son’s life by whatever means necessary.
