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“By all means.”

“Take yer hand from her and I’ll kill ye quickly.” I started walking. “Ye have until I reach ye. After that ‘twill take a great while, and I’ve naught else to do this afternoon.”

One of the hired men shifted. John raised two fingers and the man went still, which told me they might hold the blades, but he held them.

“Stop there, orc.” His tone was almost pleasant. “I can feel her heartbeat under my hand. You can’t reach me before I open her.”

Fear spiked through our Bond, and I knew I wouldn’t push it, wouldn’t terrify her further. I forced myself to stop four paces from where John held my Mate’s life.

Because he was right, damn him. Four paces; two heartbeats if I was fast, and I knew I could be fast enough today. I just needed an opportunity.

“Cataline, dkaar.” I kept my eyes on him and my voice for her. “Both our sons are safe, I swear it.”

I watched her sag, and through the Bond came something that stopped my breath—not relief, but…

Peace. My Mate had heard that her sons were safe, and as if that were the last unknown she’d wondered about, Cataline was feeling the quiet decision of being able to afford to die today.

Fook that. Fook that utterly and completely.

“How sweet,” John observed. “Now. You’re going to fetch the boy and trade with me.”

He tightened his hold on Cataline, forcing her to suck in a breath.

“Ewan for this whore.”

My blood went as cold as my tone.

“Nay.”

“You misunderstand me, orc. I’m not asking you to give up anything you value.”

He said it reasonably, as if ‘twas naught to debate.

“Keep the woman. Keep her. I’m certain she’s a fine ride and I’d not begrudge your time between her thighs, since she’s proven that’s all she’s good for.”

Cataline’s spine went rigid.

“But the boy comes with me.”

My mind was working frantically, trying to understand his angle, trying to beat him at his own game. Unfortunately, my mother had always said that my strongest gifts were my brawn and my heart, not my brain. I needed to keep him talking, needed to get him to explain, and mayhap I’d be able to find a way to get the knife away from Cataline’s throat.

So I pretended to consider the offer and allowed the point of my sword to drop a bit, making me less of a threat, while I kept half my attention on John’s hired men.

“Why trade for Ewan?” I made my voice sound confused. “Ye called him a brat. Ye’d have given the babe to the church. Now ye’ve crossed into an entirely different world and tracked us halfway across it for a lad ye dinnae even like.”

I hadn’t thought him capable of half of what he must have managed to follow us here.

Why?

Trying to ignore the anguish I could feel from Cataline, I asked John with utmost puzzlement.

“What can Ewan offer ye?”

That was what he’d been waiting for, apparently. I saw him settle into his explanation—his brilliance—the way Mormmit settles into a bad guard, pleased with himself, certain of his ground. And my Kteer crowed, knowing ‘twould help me bring him down.

“Because,” John announced proudly, “Cataline’s husband, Richard, was the third son of Baron Godwin.”

Cataline scoffed, then gasped as John squeezed her again.