Unleashed by Abby Gordon Read Free Book Online

wife,” Wulfgar fired back. He refused to acknowledge what the words meant to him. The way Amanda looked at him? What kind of relationship did he have with her? The beast howled triumphantly within him. Hope, long-suppressed and forgotten, pushed through the barrier of loneliness in his life. But he still couldn’t attend to it. “You and your wife have been married nearly two years. Why don’t you have any children?”
    “My wife is young.”
    “She is young or you are old?”
    Heinrich’s face reddened at the insult.
    “My wife…”
    “Is in control of your marriage and you don’t know how to deal with her,” came the blunt words.
    Jaw clenched, Heinrich looked at him with eyes suddenly much more like Amanda’s than Aaron’s had been. Wulfgar could see the strength in them, strength the man had given to his daughter. He could understand how, after years of loneliness, Heinrich had married the much younger woman thinking she would care for him and give him joy of more children as his first two grew up and left home. Unfortunately, his indulgence had spoiled his wife to the point that drastic measures would be necessary for the man to regain his position in their home. Wulfgar suspected that the man might actually enjoy the course of action that would be available. Having been at the court of a king who indulged in pleasures of the flesh, Wulfgar had become knowledgeable in a variety of sexual practices. While he hadn’t enjoyed them in years, he did still have a room equipped with implements Heinrich would find useful. That Heinrich could take his anger beyond discipline into vicious cruelty occurred to Wulfgar briefly, but he dismissed it. Bettina, he knew, might think aspects of it were harsh, but Wulfgar sensed that she secretly longed for her husband to take control of her and their marriage.
    “Your son has died, sir. You need another. That means you must exert control over your wife. While not expecting the tragic events of today, I have a suggestion that will most likely meet both your requirements.”
    With a glance at his wife’s blonde head, he lifted his chin. “What do you suggest, milord?”
    “Follow me.”
    Silently, Heinrich followed him through the manor to a wing they had not been previously shown. As they turned a corner, Bettina began to revive and became hysterical.
    “Take me out of here,” she shrieked at her husband, pummeling his chest with her fists. “There are dangerous beasts roaming this place. They’ll kill us all. Take me home.”
    Wulfgar turned to watch Heinrich deal with her. As he’d suspected, the man had reached his last drop of patience. Eyes narrowed, Heinrich shook his wife forcefully and slapped her face. Stunned, she stared at him before fainting. He easily caught her and picked her up, looking at his host with a look of calm determination.
    Smothering a smile, Wulfgar continued to the door at the end of the corridor. The room held a large bed, a small chest of drawers, and a table with one chair near the small fireplace, while in the far corner was a low table with a chamber pot, pitcher, and basin. Heinrich entered the room and carefully put his wife on the bed.
    Wulfgar stayed at the door, tossing him the key.
    “Jordan will bring your meals, replace the chamber pot if you put it outside, and bring firewood. There are some items in the drawers you might find useful in making sure your wife knows just who is in control.”
    A slight frown on his face, Heinrich crossed the room and opened the top drawer. His breath drew in sharply at the sight of the blindfold, gag, and padded leather straps as well as a crop and a paddle.
    “Is that what you intend to use on my daughter?” he demanded, eyes flashing with righteous indignation.
    “You have no right to protect your daughter now,” Wulfgar replied flatly. “You lost that right when you allowed the shrew you married to treat her like a servant. When you didn’t protect her from the storm that brought you