Alric brooded. Neither of them should have left.
“Come on.” She took his hand and led him forward. “We need to find Odger. I’m afraid what the other men will do to us if they find this out.”
He paused. She stared at him. “You’re not going to leave me again, are you, Alric?”
“I do not want to travel with the Danes or be their slave.”
“Wolf will keep you safe.”
“When he is here. And when he is not?”
“You will keep yourself safe.” She smiled. “And, of course, you have me.”
They smiled at each other and even laughed a little. Despite it feeling good after what had just happened, a part of her feared she was growing hard, like them.
“Where have you been?” she asked Alric. “Wolf searched and searched.”
He gave her a surprised look. “Wolf did?” Then his grin softened. “He did it for you.”
“No. He—”
“He did it for you, Camelee. He is in love with you.”
She wanted to scoff but her hands were still shaking. She wasn’t in any mood to play games. She didn’t think Alric was either. After all, he’d just killed a man.
“I think I may love him, too,” she told him the truth instead. “But how can I? I don’t belong here.”
“Our hearts do not listen to good sense.”
She smiled. “Where have you been, Alric? We looked everywhere for you.”
“I was walking to my home in Sheffield.”
“What happened? Why did you come back?”
“It is a long walk. I decided to return.”
“Well, I’m glad you did. But what should we tell Odger?”
He eyed her. “The truth.”
“Will he care that Ivar tried to rape me?”
“I imagined Wolf would not have chosen Odger if he thought the soldier would not care.”
“Yes. I think you’re right about that.” She couldn’t help but hug him again. “I really do hope you’ll stay with us, Alric.”
She would swear she felt his breath stall. And then he spoke into her shoulder. “And what, Camelee? We will be a family—until you leave?”
“Oh.” She had no idea what to say to him. He was right. She was only thinking of herself when she asked him to stay. She withdrew and looked at him. “Maybe you can come with me?”
Sure! She could see Alric in designer jeans and a nice cashmere sweater. He’d fit right in!
“Is Hild coming, too?” he asked.
She looked away, disgusted at herself for caring what he thought of her when he realized she hadn’t thought about bringing Hild. Of course, it seemed Hild loved Genevra and Wolf and no one else. Perhaps they all would be happier here. What about Wolf? Would he come with her? Did she want him to? Yes. She missed him. She missed seeing his face everywhere she looked. She was never out of his sight. And now, thinking of Ivar, she understood why.
They entered the keep and met Odger, with Genevra close behind him, with Hild crying in her arms. Genevra rushed to her, ignoring Odger’s command to stay close. She hugged Camelee and doted over her bruised temple.
