Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 103370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
The snowflakes started falling as she made her way down the hill to the village. A horn suddenly sounded and people started rushing about and that had Raven running. She ran even faster when she saw that people were congregating near Greta’s cottage. Fear slammed into her chest that something had happened to one of her men.
Wolf was issuing orders when she got near, but her eyes went to Fyn holding up her bow and cache of arrows, which meant a hunt, and the look of fury on his face meant only one thing… Greta or Tait, or both were missing.
Iver’s attention was on the ground tracking and he soon disappeared into the woods. Clive, Brod, and George weren’t standing far from Fyn and they all had their eyes on her. She knew why. They waited for her.
Wolf’s warriors were gathering as were many of the villagers. With the snow coming, time was their enemy. They would have to move fast.
Raven knew what she had to do. She flung off her cloak and raised her hand as she drew near and Fyn let out a wild roar that had everyone jumping away from him and unknowingly clearing a path for her. She didn’t halt her speed, she increased it and as she drew near her men, Fyn threw her bow to her and she caught it with ease as she rushed past everyone, her men following behind her, and they disappeared into the woods.
Fyn hurried up alongside her as they kept pace with Iver, tracking fast thanks to the snow already on the ground.
Fyn explained as best he could as they rushed along. “The prisoner Toke managed to escape. He’s got Tait.”
She grabbed the cache of arrows Fyn held out to her, her injured arm sore and protesting no doubt from climbing the tree, but she ignored it, and flung the strap across her chest as she kept a few paces behind Iver. Any questions she had, and she had many, could wait until later. Right now all that mattered was rescuing the young lad.
“That’s some warrior woman you have there,” Lars said with a huge grin. “Did you see the way she didn’t even stop or hesitate to catch that bow? And her speed,” —he shook his head— “I’ve never seen a woman run that fast.”
Wolf was furious, proud, and jealous. She trusted her men without question. She had had no idea of what was going on and yet she never stopped and questioned. Her hand shooting up in the air had to have been a signal that she was ready to join them in whatever it was and Fyn’s roar confirmed they would join as one to see it done. Each of her men stood steady and waited and followed her lead.
He wanted that kind of unwavering trust from her.
“The men are ready,” Gorm said, a sword at his side.
“I’m leaving Lars here with you in case it’s a trap,” Wolf said.
“We’re prepared,” Gorm informed him.
Greta approached. “Please, Wolf, I beg you, please bring my son back to me.”
“You have my word I’ll bring Tait home,” Wolf said.
“No matter what, Wolf,” she pleaded.
He spoke with a fierce command that no one could deny. “No matter what, Greta, your son will be returning home with me.”
She nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks and Eria stepped forward to offer what comfort she could, her arm going around Greta.
Wolf turned away knowing Greta wanted her son brought home alive, but also letting him know that he was to be brought home no matter what condition they might find him so she could hold her son in her arms again, even if only for one last time.
Wolf led his troop of warriors into the woods, following his wife’s tracks and sending a tracker ahead to see what he could find. He worried over her. She might be a skilled warrior but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be harmed. Or that this was somehow a trap she was falling into and he’d be too late to save her. Her men would protect her, as she would them, making his worry grow.
He thought he would have a docile wife in Raven. Someone who chose to unselfishly surrender to set her brothers free. Someone who would be obedient, grateful, possibly a bit fearful of him. She was none of those. And while she certainly wasn’t easy to deal with, he found her not only more interesting than any other woman he had known, but no woman had ever challenged him the way Raven did.
The thought of his wife charging into danger before him jabbed at his gut. If she got herself hurt one more time, he was going to lock her in their bedchamber. The ridiculous thought sobered him. He’d never do such a terrible thing to her and she’d never allow it. She’d raise hell if he tried and he wouldn’t blame her. He didn’t wed her to make her a prisoner.