“I’m going to begin searching for them,” he said. “Stay here, and don’t leave until I return.”
She nodded, and at the sight of her worry, he bent and kissed her cheek. “It will be all right. I promise you.”
But as he took his leave of her, a sense of dread filled him at the thought of what he must say to Elena.
“Let go of me,” Caragh demanded.
Onund had gripped her by the arm, holding her fast. “You are commanded to stay here until Styr returns. You may not follow them.” His expression was like granite, his bearded face shielding any trace of sympathy.
His imperious attitude darkened her mood, and she tried to pry his hand away. “I won’t interfere. They won’t even know I’m there.” She craned her neck to meet his eyes, hoping he would understand. “I just want to… see them together.”
If she could see the look in Styr’s eyes when he saw his wife for the first time, she would have the answer she needed. She would know if there was any hope of a future with him.
Onund loosened his grip upon her. He stared at her as if trying to discern her purpose. “I saw him watching you. And I saw him go to your tent this morn.”
She shielded her feelings from him. “He did nothing to dishonor his marriage.” Though she wondered if that were true. In the end, he’d hungered for her, and she’d writhed at the touch of his mouth upon her bare breast. Even now, the memory sent a ripple of desire through her.
“Their marriage is a shadow,” Onund admitted. His expression narrowed upon her, as if trying to read her thoughts. “It was duty that kept him at Elena’s side. He should have put her aside long ago, choosing another woman to give him sons.”
His answer startled Caragh, for she’d not known that the others were aware of their marital difficulties. Nor had she realized the emphasis the Lochlannach placed upon bearing children.
“Whatever choice he makes, I want him to be happy,” she told Onund.
The man folded his arms across his chest, and Caragh doubted if he would allow her to take a single step inland. But then, he surprised her when he sighed and shook his head. “Styr needs sons,” he repeated. Taking her hand, he led her through the sand towards the hills. “You must remain hidden.”
As they approached the top, he added, “You cannot reveal yourself. No matter what you see.”
“I won’t,” she swore. Grateful for his assistance, she walked alongside him. Styr had gone with a handful of men earlier, tracking the path of Ragnar and Elena. There was no way of knowing how far they’d gone or whether they would find them.
But with every footstep closer, her dread heightened. Within her bones, she feared that Styr would never leave Elena behind.
Onund led her through the meadows, toward a river that wound through the land. Traces of smoke from a fire revealed the presence of a campsite.
“Stay back,” he warned. There was a small copse of trees, hardly more than a dozen, nearby. He guided her there, and when they reached the edge, he warned, “Not a word. You don’t reveal us, or Styr will have my head for it.”
She nodded, crouching low. Her stomach burned when she saw Styr speaking to another man who she supposed wasRagnar. Their features were similar, though Ragnar’s hair was a darker gold blended with brown, and he was shorter.
There was a tension between them, though she didn’t know what they had said to one another. Styr was eyeing his kinsman with suspicion, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
Then, a moment later, the woman emerged from within a crude shelter. Her face softened with relief at the sight of Styr, and she looked as if she wanted to embrace him.
The ugly claws of jealousy sank into Caragh, though she knew Styr was bound to Elena and had shared her bed. The image of the two of them together made her lungs constrict, and she gripped her skirts at the thought.
“Do you want to go?” Onund whispered, seeming to read her thoughts.
Caragh didn’t move. She was waiting to see if Styr would deny Elena, if he would tell her the truth of what had happened between them. Instead, she saw the woman offer a tentative smile, her hands moving to rest upon her womb.
Then the shock of disbelief upon his face.
And she knew. Without a single word from either of them, she knew that after so many years of trying for a child, it had come to pass. Styr would never leave his wife and unborn child. Not for a woman he’d known in so short a space of time.
The pain was a physical blow, drowning her. Caragh took a breath and nodded to Onund. She didn’t want to hear any words or excuses. Right now, she wanted her brothers to bring her home. Somewhere she wouldn’t have to see Styr or his wife again.
She’d been a fool to let herself be caught up in the dreams of a life with him. Last night, she had gone to him, and he’d warned her to leave.
She should have gone.
Caragh hurried through the field, not caring if anyone saw her or not. Onund kept up with her pace, and when she reached the shore, her lungs were burning, every part of her grieving.
