She was crying now as she ran, her sobs jagged and rough as her breath laboured, her pace slowing as the high of her panic started to crash into clear sharp fear.
“Hanna. Hanna!” came Alaric’s voice from behind her, sharp and angry yet muffled by the thick forest, and it spurred her on in her desperate sprint through the woods.
She did not know this part of the forest, and here and there she slowed, unsure which way to go, confused and turned around. But even with the desperation of her pace, she knew Alaric was was coming for her.
Loping behind her like a patient and deadly predator waiting for her to stumble or misstep.
Branches tore at her dress and scratched her cheeks, the pins fell from her hair, and as fast as she fled, she could hear Alaric gaining behind her. His footfalls ever closer, his voice rough and cursing behind her, no longer soothing, but angered.
“Stop, Hanna-” he growled behind her as she reached a sheltered clearing, turning to see him mere feet away, a determined snarl on his face that made her sob with anguish.
HANNA
His body crashed into hers, and Hanna was lifted bodily in strong, unyielding arms, her feet kicking wildly as she was carried a few steps and then hauled up and against a tree, Alaric’s face inches from hers as he held her tight, knowing she would slip free in a second if she could.
Rough bark scraped her shoulderblades through her dress, hair wild and tangled as it fell across her face and her breath sawed in her lungs as Alaric trapped her there with his body.
“How dare you run from me-” Alaric ground out, his voice stony with anger, those golden eyes now darkened to bronze and narrowed on his prey.
Hanna could not find words, breath… anything. Her body seized with fright as her worst nightmare looked her straight in the eye.
“Speak, woman,” said Alaric, shaking her lightly by the shoulders as she sobbed pitifully.
Then, it all came tumbling out in a rush of words, a dam of pain and shame bursting as every dark thought tried to speak as one. And Hanna fought the urge to fall into his embrace, curl against his chest and beg for mercy.
“He said he would tell… You saw us... I was so scared.”
The words came, but no sense was behind them. She knew not if Alaric would understand.
Alaric narrowed his gaze, watching her intently as she spoke through the tears.
Then, when she finally stopped for a shuddering gasp of air, he leaned forward and rested his forehead lightly against hers, turning to speak softly, soothingly into her ear.
“Hush, Hanna, please.”
A gasping sob clawed its way up her throat at the tender tone of his voice, her heart aching at the thought that it might be the last time Alaric spoke to her.
“Did that dog Emsley say he would tell me you were laying with him? Do you really think I would believe a cretin like him over my ownwife?” rasped Alaric, his voice suddenly harsh, swiping his hand roughly over her cheek and caging her back against the oak tree behind her.
“I … what?” Hanna managed to stammer, confusion swirling in her mind.
Of course she thought that, she had completely believed that was what would happen.
Alaric cursed, turning his face from Hanna’s and gritting his teeth as his arms caged her in with his wrath.
“I told Emsley exactly what I thought about the horseshitehe was trying to feed me.”
Hanna merely stared, struck dumb at the vehemence of his words.
Alaric continued. “He cannot be allowed to behave like this. Others might have looked away,but I will not. He will never claim the boy as his own, I won’t let him.”
The last words Alaric ground out while staring straight into her eyes, his hands tightening with the rush of emotion she saw on his face.
Hanna gaped, disbelief warring with the hope blossoming in her chest.
“I told Emsley I have already claimed him. You and the boy aremine!” Alaric shook her again, his eyes flashing hot, as Hanna clung to his shoulders, her body going limp as his words started to penetrate the terror that had surged inside of her.
“I told him too, he was at risk of suffering a deadly fall from his horse while out hunting if he chose to stay. It would be much safer to leave for the continent.”
