MacAuliffe Vikings Trilogy 3 - Lord of the wolves Read Online Free PDF Page B

for you. I never let anyone take what is mine.”
    “You needn"t do me any favors,” she told him, violet eyes still burning brightly. “And if you had but heeded my pleadings, they"d never have come so far!”
    “Had you but heeded my warnings, you wouldn"t have been in the path of danger!”
    “But this castle would—”
    “This castle is wood and stone!”
    “Wood and stone filled with people!” she cried.

    “I arrived on time, milady,” he swore savagely, looking away. Once again he had almost been too late. He fought to control his temper. He had owed her nothing!
    “Then,” she murmured, fighting to keep her voice level, “have you come to stay for a while?”
    He smiled slowly. “Ah, Melisande! Not a „Thank you, milord. After all, you arrive at such an opportune time." Just „How long are you staying? Please don"t let it be long." Of course, I"m sure it would have been more fortunate had a blazing Danish arrow made it to my heart, but alas, I fear I have not availed you so.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “Indeed, a pity,” she whispered, then quickly formed the right words. “Thank you for arriving at such an opportune time,” she murmured. Her eyes lowered for a moment, then rose to his. Truly they burned now! “Though, milord, I must ask, what difference does it make, one Viking or another?”
    Damn her.
    She would always ignore what she chose to, and she knew how to cut quickly to the heart.
    He grit his teeth again, willing himself to control both his temper and any display of emotion. He forced a smile to his lips. “Well, then, milady,” he said softly. “If I find that I do need to negotiate with Geoffrey or some Danish jarl at a later date, I will know that I don"t offend you in any way if I offer up your glorious person in exchange for some other concession on their part.” Ah! Now that one had cut, too! He saw the violet fire leap to her eyes. Her anger struck so quickly that she had no time to control her emotions. She was still carrying her elegantly engraved sword. She lifted it quite suddenly—and lethally—and it was only the speed of his battle reflexes that allowed him to quickly parry her blow. It had been a strong one, and his response had been strong as well. Their swords reverberated on the air for a moment, and his eyes met hers—filled with fury and promise. She cried out suddenly, losing her footing upon the broken step. She dropped her sword, seeking some hold on the wall. But there was only stone for her to touch. He dropped his sword, bracing his legs, reaching out for her just as she would have plummeted to the rough earth below. His arms curled strongly around her waist, dragging her hard against him. She gasped in a ragged breath, then her head fell back, and all the tempest he had remembered burned within the gaze she gave him.
    He smiled slowly. No matter how many times he saved her, she hated him so!
    Yet even as he held her now, he remembered. Remembered the feel of her flesh, the supple perfection of her form. Longing, hot as lightning, hard, aching, ripped into him. Rigid with it, he spoke to her quickly, all too aware that he hadn"t the time at this moment to deal with her as he so desired.
    “You little fool! You"d kill yourself to get to me! Well, milady, I"m damned sorry, but today was just a skirmish in what is to come, and so help me God—”
    “But you don"t believe in God, do you?” she taunted.
    His arms tightened. Her fingers curled around them desperately, but she knew she"d never free herself. She gritted her teeth, going still, her hatred still smoldering in her eyes when he shook her to silence her.
    “We are going to present a united front, my love. You"ve half an hour to prepare yourself, Melisande, and then you will be down in the fortress yard to greet me so that we can both greet my men and your people. There"s going to be enough death. You will not add to it.”
    “I have never sacrificed my people!” she retorted angrily. “Indeed,