LITMIR.BIZ

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particularly when those woods have such a sinister reputation in her father’s saga.’

      ‘I should have been.’ Sela tilted her head upward and met his green gaze. Two could play at this game. She was no longer the naïve woman who had been his bride; she had matured. He no longer had any power over her. ‘What is one shadow when you are fleeing for your life?’

      Vikar crossed his arms and gave a small shrug. The material tightened across his shoulders, revealing their breadth. ‘All I had to do was give you the opportunity and a slight push in the right direction. You can be very predictable, Sela.’

      Predictable. Dull. Unexciting.

      The words thudded in her brain. She knew what Vikar must think of her. What he had thought of her in those brief months they had had together. She had not been a person to him, but a glass counter in his quest for glory, something to be used and discarded.

      Only she had done the discarding first.

      ‘You wanted me to escape.’

      ‘It is the reason I am here.’

      Sela looked up into the network of green leaves and branches rising over her head. She had no wish to show Vikar how much his casual statement cut into her soul.

      She had been arrogant, so proud of her ability that she had never once questioned why the room might be easy to leave. Her desire to reach Kjartan and her father had dimmed her common sense. She had made it easy for Vikar to play his little game. Easy!

      ‘I could have walked through the main hall and out the front door,’ she said, once she regained control of her emotions.

      ‘But it wouldn’t have been as much fun, would it?’ The dimple showed in Vikar’s cheek as he casually swung one of his legs.

      ‘Fun? Getting spiders’ webs in my hair? Having bats scream in my face?’ Sela longed for a sharp missile to throw at his head. But it would probably only provoke greater mirth. She contented herself with clenching her fists. ‘You have some strange ideas of amusement.’

      ‘I had forgotten that you did not care for bats.’ His stance relaxed slightly. The corners of his mouth began to twitch as his eyes gleamed. ‘This is an added treat.’

      His laughter echoed off the trees, sending several ravens flapping into the air. Sela gritted her teeth.

      ‘It is not funny. My mouth, nose and hands were covered in dirt and the sticky tendrils of a thousand spiders’ webs. The tunnel is far from an easy experience. This was not done for your entertainment!’

      Vikar sobered, stood up and came near her. His eyes simmered with barely suppressed fury. Sela took a step backwards, her hand reaching for the hilt of her dagger.

      ‘No, but one way and another you have put me to a great deal of bother and you deserved some discomfort.’

      ‘Discomfort? Was this all about teaching me some long overdue lesson?’ Sela regarded his hands, strong but with long fingers. Hands that had once cradled her when she was in pain. ‘Particularly as you say I am predictable. Why seek to punish me in this way? Surely I have suffered enough.’

      She waited for his response, every fibre of her being alert and poised. Even the breath of wind had stopped, waiting. He shifted his weight, making a twig crack.

      ‘Allowing you to escape served my needs.’

      ‘You are standing in a pool of sunlight. Perhaps it is you who ought to take lessons on concealment.’ She gave a strangled attempt at a carefree laugh. ‘I discovered you before you revealed yourself, before your plan had finished.’

      Vikar lifted an eyebrow. ‘I will have to make an adjustment to my plans. It is one of my more endearing features—I learn and make adjustments.’

      ‘Endearing features? Do you have more than one?’ Sela asked through gritted teeth.

      ‘Others think so.’

      ‘Perhaps it is because they are unacquainted with the real you.’

      ‘And you are?’ He lifted an eyebrow.

      ‘Let me know the full horror of your plan. Exactly how was I to provide your amusement…this time?’

      ‘You were to unwittingly lead me to your father’s bolt-hole. The scheme had its merits, you will have to admit.’

      Sela cast her eyes heavenwards. She had very nearly done that. Depending on the way she went, the hut could easily be reached by early morning. The shadows were lengthening, but there would only be a short time while it was truly dark and she had to rest. She had intended on pressing on, forcing her body to move, but now there was little point. Vikar was here, with her.

      She refused to betray her father like that.

      Her insides trembled, but she forced her body to be as straight as a newly forged sword.

      ‘Your scheme has failed. I won’t lead you anywhere.’ Her hand brushed the hilt of the dagger. If he did advance, she would have no hesitation. He was her enemy.

      ‘You will, Sela. You will lead me directly to your father.’ His voice dropped to a purr and lapped at the edges of her mind. The same silken sound he had used to coax her back after one of their quarrels. ‘You will obey me. You will lead me to him.’

      ‘Never.’ Sela spat the word and regained control of her mind.

      ‘Shall I make you?’

      Vikar took several steps towards her. Her hand tightened around the hilt. Her entire arm ached—from her hand to her elbow to her shoulder. She drew a breath, felt her legs tense.

      ‘If you come any closer…’

      ‘The time for using that weapon has gone.’

      ‘Then stop tempting me.’ She forced her fingers to relax. At the slight movement, he halted. ‘If you keep your distance, I won’t use it. But I do know how to.’

      ‘Temptation. Let’s speak of temptation to do harm and see who has the greater right.’ A grim smile crossed his features. ‘You owe me. You left Kaupang without an explanation and you attempted to leave the hall without my permission.’

      ‘I was not aware I needed your permission.’

      ‘Twice is two times too many.’

      The breath rushed out of her. This was all about his hurt pride. She had damaged his overwhelming sense of self-importance.

      ‘You know why I left—or you would have if you had spared me some time from the oh-so-lovely Asa’s side.’ Anger filled her. Her fingers itched to draw the dagger from its sheath. ‘You did not care whether I lived or died…until I was gone.’

      ‘Maybe you should have fought for me. Maybe you used it as an excuse to get away from something you feared.’ Vikar’s eyes were ice-cold green as they regarded her hand, but he made no further movement towards her.

      ‘How does one fight a queen?’ Sela kicked a pebble, remembering those dreadful days in Kaupang when she had waited for him to come to her at her father’s house. He had never responded to her ultimatum except to order her back. She had finished taking orders from him and had left. ‘I refused to compete, and feed your vanity.’

      ‘Was it about my vanity or yours?’ Vikar’s eyes became inscrutable as he took a step closer. The warmth of his breath fanned her cheek. She could see the lines in the corners of his eyes and the hollow of his throat where she used to press her lips.

      ‘My vanity?’ The words came out as a squeak.

      ‘Yes, yours.’

      Vikar came closer, so close, that if she breathed deeply their bodies would touch. Her fingers trembled. To her horror, she realised that she wanted to touch him, to feel his skin slide under her palms, to once again experience that swirl of emotion. Her body remembered the times they had spent together. Remembered it

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