Page 59 of Beholden
“Curly insists that only he and his fellow hunters know about this cave,” Vilmar whispered.
“But the torches are so near. What if they have learned about it?”
“If they come inside, we shall fight them. Curly and Ty are standing guard on either side of the fall.”
“No. I shall not allow you to fight for me again.”
The soft exhalations of his breathing ceased.
“You have already done too much,” I rushed to explain. “You have put your life in jeopardy for me too many times, and I cannot allow you to do so any more.”
“The queen seeks my life as much as she does yours.”
“Because of me.” My whisper grew more adamant. “I have brought danger upon you.”
“I have made my own choices—”
“If not for me, you would never have left the mine pits.”
“If not for you, I wouldn’t have learned how to be a better man.”
How was he a better man because of me? He’d already been noble and gallant. I shook my head. “I have led to your demise. You ended your Testing because of me.”
“Maybe at first I wanted to abandon my Testing so I could save you. But in the end, I did it to free everyone from slavery. I realize now that was my destiny, to lay down my life as a ransom for many, and I would have done it with or without you.”
My racing thoughts paused. I, too, sensed he would have freed the slaves. That’s the kind of man he was. My leaving the mine had merely spurred him to do it sooner. “Nevertheless, I release you from the betrothal and any obligation to me.”
“You don’t have the power to do so.” His whisper turned hard. “The vows we took are binding.”
“They were spoken under duress; therefore, you are not beholden to me.”
He shifted, his body tensing against mine. “No one can force me, even under the greatest duress, to make promises I don’t intend to keep.”
“But, Your Highness—”
He pressed a kiss against my ear, cutting off my words and thoughts. I reveled in his nearness and the echo of his breath in the hollow of my ear. After a moment, he lifted away. “Do not call me that ever again.” His request was harsh.
“Call you what?”
“By my title.”
“But that is my whole point.” I twisted around, wishing I could see his face. But the darkness was too thick. “You are a prince. You deserve a woman of your equal, not a poor woman, a nobody—”
His mouth descended upon mine, powerfully and fully, giving me no chance to protest any further and sweeping me away in a current of desire. I raised my hand to his cheek and kissed him back, no longer able to contain my love.
An admonition tolled like a bell somewhere at the back of my mind. I was being selfish and needed to let him go. But as he slid a hand to my cheek, then neck, my love for him swelled and drowned out the clanging.
A moment later he broke away, leaving me gasping for breath. “I shall have you as my wife and no other for as long as I live.” His whisper rang with both passion and determination.
I closed my eyes and basked in the kiss still lingering upon my lips. But even as I considered giving myself over to him, I forced myself to try one more time to sever the bond between us. “I have made a mortal enemy of the queen. She will never stop seeking to silence me. If you align yourself with me, then she will consider you her enemy too.”
“She already sees me as an enemy for capturing Grendel.”
“That is the crux of the problem.” My voice rose, only to receive a shushing warning from Ty and Curly. I swallowed my desperation and lowered my tone. “If I stay with you, she will have more reason to hate Scania and perhaps even seek retaliation. But if you leave me and return to your homeland, Scania may eventually be able to restore peace with Warwick. Surely, your father and all his advisors would want you to seek Scania’s good over your own?”
Before he could respond, a shout came from the river beyond the waterfall and torchlight flickered nearer. Vilmar released me and was on his feet in an instant with his weapons drawn.
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