Blind Allegiance Read Online Free PDF Page B

my life any worse. You’ll leave my home in shambles and I’ll be the one tasked with putting it back together. Do you really think I’m afraid to die after what occurred here today, Viking?” Her eyes brimmed with tears. “I can’t challenge or negotiate for Noelle’s freedom, I’ve nothing to give. So you’ll take her by whatever means necessary, I know this. But I’ll tell you. If you harm a hair on her head, I will damn your soul every day for the rest of my life, and believe me, God will hear my pleadings.”
    Bewildered by this sudden display of feminine mettle, he could do nothing but admire her and further loathe her brother’s cowardice.
    “My sister only seeks refuge in two places, the woods or the old cellars.” She rubbed her nose and looked over her shoulder, in the direction of the windows. “She’s in the cellar.”
    As Randvior turned to leave, she fastened her hand around his arm.
    “A priest could never hear my brother’s confession, there’s no salvation for such a man. I beg you not to be such a brute where my sister is concerned, she’s only eighteen.”
    Why was she saying this to him? He inhaled and blew out a frustrated breath, fisted his hands. By Odin, what evils did she speak of? And just what had he bargained for?
    “My brother is obsessed with death.”
    “Some men are born killers.”
    She nodded and changed the subject. “How old are you?”
    “Twenty-eight.”
    Her gaze drifted to his eyes. “Old enough to take care of my sister, I hope .”
    “Aye,” he said, and left.
    The cellar door was open, a clear indication someone was inside. After his men finished exploring the storage rooms for gold, Randvior had ordered them to remove the torches and secure the door from the outside. He ducked under the stone archway and lifted his torch high so he could see down the stairs.
    It was an ancient passageway with narrow steps; the kind a man could fall down and break his neck. As he descended, he admired the carved stonework. Two torches burned in a floor stand—Noelle was definitely there. He knew this wasn’t the kind of place a young woman would customarily seek solace. But any place must seem safer than near her brother.
    He searched the cellar, rummaging through piles of debris. There were three subchambers off the main room, and small, round windows hewn in the stone allowed natural light to filter in. No one was there. He sighed and searched the first subchamber. Dozens of empty barrels and crates were stashed in a corner, but no girl.
    He didn’t wish to frighten, only wanted to show her a bit of kindness.
    “Noelle Sinclair,” he called, walking slowly. He sincerely hoped to lure her out of hiding without resorting to physical force. No matter if she resisted, the terms of surrender were not negotiable. She was his greatest prize—not intended for slavery, but true companionship after years of meaningless trysts with faceless wenches all over the world.
    No words could describe the emotions that stirred inside him once he met those somber eyes searching for an escape from the besieged hall. It compelled him to abandon his men and concentrate on her safety alone. Attraction turned to pure enchantment after she came face-to-face with his fiercest fighter and didn’t utter a sound. The rare bravery she demonstrated sparked a passion inside him long forgotten. An attribute greatly admired amongst the Norse. He rubbed his chin and suppressed a smile.
    He explored the second room. A hint of shadow moved across the wall. “ Min lille dukke, komme til meg, jeg vil ikke skade deg ,” he whispered. “Why are you hiding in the dark?”
    No answer.
    He waited a moment longer before speaking again. “Come out.”
    A rustling sound from behind a stack of dilapidated crates alerted him to her exact location. He took four steps and stopped, kept a safe distance so she wouldn’t feel cornered.
    “Noelle, I’m here as an ally, not an enemy.”
    “Hah!” Her face appeared.