It was the insults that never went away. Those harsh words that continued to let blood for years after they were uttered. Words that resonated to the soul. That was what haunted him, no matter what he accomplished.
No matter how strong he grew.
Their words still shredded and gutted him.
Demon they might have accused him when he’d been a boy, but those wretched bastards were far more insidious and demonic than he could ever be.
Unlike them, Ariel was gentleness incarnate. One who deserved so much more than he could ever offer. He had no understanding of love, or kindness of any sort. What could he really give her?
The scorn of people who called him monster and ran at the first sign of his approach?
A cabbage to the head when she wasn’t looking?
God knew his brain was rattled enough by such a lobbing, and he wore a helmet. Her tender noggin would never withstand such vicious onslaughts, and he’d gut anyone who dared such an affront to her and tie their innards around their neck for sport.
And that was mild compared to what he’d do to anyone who ever threatened or harmed any child he might one day father.
He flinched at the thought of his child sharing his godforsaken eyes.
Mayhap his enemies were right after all. Demons dreamed of corrupting young innocents, and ever since the moment he’d first laid eyes upon her, he’d had few thoughts save peeling that soft kirtle from her body and making merry with her sweet alabaster skin. Of sinking himself deep inside her until he was lost there for hours on end.
His body ached with the weight of his desire. If he had one moral or decent part left inside him, he’d order both her and her brother from his lands.
Ban them for eternity.
But that was the last thing he wanted to do.
And Valteri scoffed at the very thought of his humanity. Had there ever been any part of him born decent, Brother Jerome had beat it out of him long ago and hung it up on the monastery wall for his amusement. Now, all that was left was a bitter, angry warrior who wanted nothing from this world.
Just a way out as soon as possible.
Sadly, he had yet to meet a man capable of giving him what he wanted most.
Stupid, incompetent bastards. Not a one of them seemed to be able to run him through.
A clap of thunder rent the air, ushering in a sudden, violent wind. He looked up at the sky, amazed at the swiftness of the storm. Dark clouds gathered with an eerie darkness that changed the entire appearance of the landscape.
He hurried to help load the wounded onto wagons to carry them back to their homes in and around the village.
As the last wagon rumbled away, he turned back to the vision who haunted him, waking and sleeping.
Ariel now stood at the edge of the hill, looking out onto the valley below. The winds whipped her dress against her body, plastering the material against her curves so that they outlined each and every bit of her slim posture, leaving little to his imagination. That sight made his mouth water and his body hunger for her even more.
He willed his insatiable lust into submission before it drove him to madness. He must get her back to the hall before the storm drowned them both.
“Ariel,” he called.
She ignored him.
Frowning, Valteri made his way to her side.
So much of what she did perplexed him. The way she moved as if all things were new to her, almost childlike, and yet there was nothing childish about her.
He started to touch her arm, then stopped himself. She stared out into nothing, and yet her eyes were focused, not dazed.
“Do you smell it?” Her voice was a faint whisper.
“Smell what?”
