Page 13 of Claimed By the Viking

Strange that when she was so infuriated, it was what she thought of.

From inside her, a wetness was dripping such as she’d not experienced before. Was that the seed he spoke of or her own woman’s dew, as was supposed to help with the mating?

His fingertips skimmed lightly upward, making her shiver with desire.

And then she froze.

He was tracing the uneven skin, following the pronounced ridges where her wounds had healed.

“Did you… hurt yourself?” He explored further, as if to determine where the puckered flesh began and where it ended. “You’re unblemished everywhere but here. What is this?”

“Nothing!” She recoiled.

How could she have been so stupid?

Of course, he felt the unnatural texture of her skin. Naïvely, she’d thought he wouldn’t notice, being without his sight. It was that alone which had given her the courage to remove her clothes.

She hadn’t bargained on him noticing where she was spoiled.

Somewhat awkwardly, she slithered from his lap. She’d found her nakedness pleasurable before. Now, she could only think of covering herself. Hurriedly, she threw her undershift over her head, then the loosegunna,fastened at the shoulders. Her belt was harder to locate, having found its way under the table.

All the while, Viggo said nothing.

What was he feeling?

Disgust? Pity?

She couldn’t bear it.

A strained quiet engulfed them.

“What has happened?” He sounded dismayed, as if struggling to understand. “Tell me.”

But she could not. The past was the past. There was no changing what was done, but nor did she have to speak of it.

Certainly not with him.

CHAPTER 6

The tenth day of the men’s sojourn on the island

Signy was almostlate in joining the meeting in the longhouse. Bothild sent her a nod of greeting as she entered. Her mother appeared merely displeased, as if she had a piece of sour fruit under her tongue.

The Council usually comprised Bothild, Hedda, Elin, Agneta, and Signy’s mother. This morning, they were joined by the remaining women who’d taken a stranger into their home—Astrid, Frida, and Grethe, beside Signy herself.

Elin touched her shoulder as Signy came to sit between her and Ulva. Bothild then urged them to join hands while she offered up a prayer for Freyja to guide their wisdom.

Signy looked about the circle. Of them all, Elin knew best what she’d endured. ‘Twas she who’d tended Signy when her father had given her the beating, insisting that she lie upon her front well beyond a full cycle of the moon. Daily, Elin had visited, applying an unguent of honey mixed with oil of pine and lavender.

Knud had tried to refuse Elin’s help until her mother had pointed out there would be no husband at all for their daughter if she weren’t given time to heal. Then, of course, The Great Happening had occurred, and neither Signy’s father nor brother had cared what state she was in.

Elin had been the one to truly help her, though there was nothing to be done about the loss of hearing on her left side, where Knud had slapped Signy. These days, Signy hardly noticed the deficiency. At least, when her mother was being especially fractious, Signy had only to turn that side toward her. Then, she could almost pretend she wasn’t there.

Bothild was addressing Elin, requesting a report on the strangers. Dread occupied Signy’s stomach as each man’s circumstances were detailed. They were all making progress. Some were hardly injured at all.

Whereas Viggo…

It seemed nothing could be done, since Elin found no significant sign of outward injury. Beyond the bruises, and a small contusion above his ear, he was unharmed, so it seemed, except his lack of vision persisted. A blow to the head could cause such things, Elin had explained. There might be a bleed within the skull that could not be seen.

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