Ragnar didn’t move from his place, even when his friend and kinsmen made camp and built a fire. He spied the faces of Onund and a few other men who had been taken captive that night. They set up tents, and Ragnar waited to see if Styr would take the woman within his shelter.
He could hardly bring himself to watch them when he knew Styr was about to break Elena’s heart. He didn’t want to be right. Not in this, not when she was expecting a child. When Styr found out, would he turn away from her? Or would he stay?
The woman went inside a tent far away from the others, and Ragnar breathed a little easier. And yet he couldn’t forget what he’d seen.
He moved away from his hiding spot and returned to the shelter. This was his last night with Elena, and he suspected that the morning would bring nothing but despair. But he was here for her now, and he would not leave. Even if her husband abandoned her.
Inside the space, Ragnar could hear the rhythm of Elena’s breathing. She was curled up on her side and he moved in close. She didn’t awaken but nestled against him while he drew his arms around her.
He’d vowed not to touch her, but Styr’s actions had shattered those vows. If his friend had found someone else to love, then Elena deserved more.
The scent of her skin and the warmth of her body allured him, and it was a physical pain to be so near. He didn’t care anymore. Tonight he would lie with the woman he loved in his arms and damn the consequences.
At dawn, she awakened to feel Ragnar’s body pressed close. Elena blinked, knowing she should get up...and yet wanting to remain where she was. His strong arms were wrapped around her while her head rested beneath his chin. The heat of his skin permeated her, and she felt a peacefulness in his embrace.
He must have returned late last night, for she’d not heard him. She didn’t know why he’d slept beside her. Perhaps he’d moved during his sleep and hadn’t been aware he was so close.
“Ragnar,” she whispered.
“Ja?”
Elena hadn’t known he was awake. She waited for him to pull his arms away, to retreat toward his side of the shelter.
Instead, he tightened his grasp around her. “There’s something you need to know.” Something in the timbre of his voice held foreboding. That, and the way he was holding her now.
“What is it?” She tried to extricate herself, rolling over to face him, but he kept her imprisoned in his arms. In the dim light ofmorning, it brought her body flush to his, and she sensed that whatever he had to say was not good news.
“Styr’s ship landed here last night.”
It was the last thing she’d expected him to say. Her husband had returned? A rush of relief filled her, and she couldn’t stop her smile. “He’s alive. Thank the gods.”
“And he—” Ragnar’s words broke off, as if he’d suddenly caught himself.
“And he what?” She sat up and this time, he released her. When she turned to him, there was a fierce cast to his face, the harbinger of bad news. “Is he wounded?”
Ragnar shook his head. He eyed her for a moment and said, “I suppose if it’s of any importance, he’ll tell you himself.” He rose from his place and moved to leave the shelter. “I’ll build a fire and we’ll wait for him.”
“Is he down by the shore?”
“He and our kinsmen, yes.”
“Then we should go to them now,” Elena insisted. “You should have woken me last night.” It made little sense why Ragnar would let Styr and the others make camp along the shore when they could have been together.
“We’ll wait for them here,” Ragnar said. “Let them awaken on their own. They must have traveled for hours and likely need the sleep.”
His answer made no sense at all. She’d been apart from her husband for a week, and Ragnar was concerned about them sleeping enough? It was evident that he wasn’t telling her something. From the shielded expression on his face, it had something to do with Styr. Elena didn’t press him, however. Whatever it was, she’d learn the truth sooner or later.
She joined him outside by the fire, but when there were no signs of anyone approaching from the shore, she returned inside the shelter to get food. She had a bit of meat left over from lastnight. It wasn’t enough to feed all of their kinsmen, but it was something.
Then, when she emerged from the enclosure, she caught her first glimpse of Styr approaching in the distance. Her husband didn’t look at all pleased to see them and his arms were crossed.
Was he angry with Ragnar? For what reason?
She studied her husband, so relieved that he was unharmed. His dark gold hair was tied back and he still wore chainmail armor. It didn’t appear that he had any outer wounds and for that she was grateful.
Elena approached him, wondering if he was going to welcome her into his arms. But instead of embracing her, Styr held back. Upon his face, she saw regret. Why? Wasn’t he glad to see her again?
The shaky feeling of uneasiness sharpened at his reluctance to greet her.
