His Captive Bride by Shelly Thacker Read Free Book Online Page B

I?” she demanded, deciding boldness was her only choice at the moment. “Who the devil are you and what do you—”
    “Put down the blade,” he repeated with measured patience, “and we will discuss this”—he seemed to search for the appropriate word—”situation calmly.”
    “Calmly?” She sputtered. “I have been attacked by brigands, kidnapped, carried off to sweet Mary knows where, locked in a room, and now—”
    “Milady,” he said in soft warning. Without another word, he advanced toward her, his patience apparently at an end. She retreated only a step.
    Then she retreated three more.
    As he kept coming, she decided that discretion might be better than valor at the moment. She dashed toward the bed, snatching up the black velvet tunic on the way and clutching it in front of her. She tossed the weapon into the center of the rumpled sheets.
    “There. There, are you satisfied?” She kept moving, maneuvering around until the huge bed was between them. The sword was still within reach if she chose to lunge for it.
    But he seemed placated for now. He kept his distance, reaching out to close his fingers around one of the dragon-headed posts.
    “If I had meant you any harm,” he grated out, pronouncing each word distinctly, as if she were a slow-witted child, “if I had intended to kill you, or do aught else”—his gaze flicked over her body again—”I already had ample opportunity. You will have to trust me.”
    Trust him? Trust him! Avril choked back a biting retort and quickly pulled the tunic over her head. It was obviously one of his, the sleeves much too long, the hem falling to her ankles. But at least she no longer felt as exposed as she did wearing only the ridiculous scrap of silk.
    “Where am I?” she repeated more calmly once she was dressed, trying not to provoke him again. “How far are we from Antwerp? How long was I asleep?”
    “You were asleep...” He paused, clearly choosing his words carefully. “A short time. I brought you here early this morn. That gown was the only female garment I had at the time. I have brought you some others, along with some additional female trappings you might require.” He nodded toward a pair of sacks he had left on the far side of the room. “As for where you are, this is Asgard Island. I bid you...” He paused again, sighing tiredly. “Welcome.”
    Despite the greeting, his attitude was hardly hospitable. Naught that he was saying made any sense. This man had kidnapped her, yet he did not seem to want her here.
    In fact, from the way his fingers gripped the bedpost, she had the distinct impression he wanted to throttle something. Or someone.
    “Asgard Island?” she echoed, searching her memory for all the names of places she had read about, all the places Gerard used to describe when he spoke of his travels. “I have never heard of it.”
    Those blue eyes met hers again. “I know.”
    Somehow that simple comment was more terrifying than aught else he could have said. “Who are you?” she whispered. “And what do you want with me?”
    “My name is Hauk Valbrand.” He inclined his head politely. “And in truth, I do not want you at all.”
    Before she could ask him to explain that baffling comment, he continued.
    “My only intention in the marketplace was to keep Thorolf from—”
    “Who?”
    “The man who was about to kill you. Thorolf. You angered him, and he is not a forgiving sort. If I had not stepped in to rescue you, you would have been drawn and quartered.”
    “Rescue?” She clung to that word, her heart pounding with hope. “If your only intention was to rescue me, does that mean you intend to let me go?”
    He stepped away from the bed, turning his back and staring down at the fire, “Nay,” he said, his tone one of regret. “That I cannot do.”
    Avril was becoming more puzzled by the moment. “I-is it ransom you are seeking, then?” she guessed. Taking hostages was a common enough tactic used by men of a