Read Online Enthralled: Viking Lore, Book 1 by Emma Prince - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Emma Prince
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far too big even for Madrena, who stood more than half a head taller
than she did.
It must be Eirik’s
cloak. That meant that it was Eirik’s sea chest that Madrena was now pushing
her down to sit on.
Laurel looked around
uneasily as Madrena left her side to carry on with her duties. None of the
other Vikings were looking at her, yet she felt acutely aware of her presence
among them as an outsider—an utlending, as Eirik had called her.
His words floated back
to her, ringing in her ears, causing heat to flood her salt-crusted skin.
“ You are mine .”
Chapter Nine
Only four days remained
on their journey back to Dalgaard, five if the winds weren’t favorable, and
Eirik was determined to prove to Laurel that he wouldn’t treat her the way
Grimar had.
After the
confrontation, Grimar stayed at the bow, glowering and muttering but keeping to
himself. Eirik hoped that the distance would make Laurel feel safe, yet she
frequently started at unfamiliar noises. Then again, she’d clearly never been
on a ship before, so Eirik supposed it was all strange and new to her. Whenever
a sea chest would shift or the sail snap in the wind, her eyes would dart to
the front of the ship as if to reassure herself that Grimar was still there.
Eirik often found
himself clenching his jaw or squeezing his fists at her frightened reactions.
It irked him that she did not feel safe under his protection. But judging by
her reaction to learning that he’d claimed her as his thrall, she didn’t see
him as her protector—more like her jailor, or worse, her tyrant overlord.
She had fallen into an
exhausted sleep at the foot of his sea chest the evening he’d pulled her from
the icy waters of the North Sea. The next morning, however, her guard was back
up. She’d stared at him cautiously when he brought her fresh water, flatbread,
smoked meat, and a small crabapple. She ate hungrily, yet her wide eyes
skittered around the ship as if she expected to be attacked at any moment.
When the midday sun had
grown hot, Eirik erected an awning over the stern out of an extra length of
sailcloth. Her pale skin was already flushed pink from being exposed to the
wind, salty air, and sun for two days, but at least she could find relief from
the elements for the remainder of their voyage. She willingly went underneath
the woolen sailcloth awning, which made Eirik’s chest pinch strangely. She
would now be only a few feet away from where he stood at the tiller.
Each night, after she’d
eaten and Eirik had passed the tiller to one of his men, she curled up in his
cloak under the awning. He slept by his sea chest out in the open among the
rest of his crew. But with each passing night, it grew harder for him to sleep.
He even began imagining that he could hear her soft, steady breathing as she
slept several feet away.
Madrena began rolling
her eyes more frequently at him, and Alaric took to watching him with a little
smile on his lips.
“Why don’t you put
yourself out of your misery and go to the girl?” Madrena blurted out when they
were only a day away from Dalgaard.
Eirik’s gaze jerked
away from the horizon and landed on Madrena, who was standing cross-armed in
front of him. He hadn’t even noticed her approaching. Yet he was acutely aware
that Laurel sat behind him , fiddling with a
piece of rope.
Eirik’s mood instantly
darkened at Madrena’s question. “You would have me risk the wrath of the gods
to scratch a bodily itch?” he snapped crossly. That was all it was, anyway—a
physical desire, a natural if presently inconvenient male urge. They’d been at
sea too long. All he needed was a quick tumble—with a willing woman, not a
thrall.
“Nei, I’m not telling
you to insult the gods. But your eyes give you away, Eirik. They follow the
girl everywhere. Why don’t you share the awning with her at night if you want
to?”
Eirik felt a flood of
hot anger surge through him. He couldn’t simply crawl under the awning and
than she did.
It must be Eirik’s
cloak. That meant that it was Eirik’s sea chest that Madrena was now pushing
her down to sit on.
Laurel looked around
uneasily as Madrena left her side to carry on with her duties. None of the
other Vikings were looking at her, yet she felt acutely aware of her presence
among them as an outsider—an utlending, as Eirik had called her.
His words floated back
to her, ringing in her ears, causing heat to flood her salt-crusted skin.
“ You are mine .”
Chapter Nine
Only four days remained
on their journey back to Dalgaard, five if the winds weren’t favorable, and
Eirik was determined to prove to Laurel that he wouldn’t treat her the way
Grimar had.
After the
confrontation, Grimar stayed at the bow, glowering and muttering but keeping to
himself. Eirik hoped that the distance would make Laurel feel safe, yet she
frequently started at unfamiliar noises. Then again, she’d clearly never been
on a ship before, so Eirik supposed it was all strange and new to her. Whenever
a sea chest would shift or the sail snap in the wind, her eyes would dart to
the front of the ship as if to reassure herself that Grimar was still there.
Eirik often found
himself clenching his jaw or squeezing his fists at her frightened reactions.
It irked him that she did not feel safe under his protection. But judging by
her reaction to learning that he’d claimed her as his thrall, she didn’t see
him as her protector—more like her jailor, or worse, her tyrant overlord.
She had fallen into an
exhausted sleep at the foot of his sea chest the evening he’d pulled her from
the icy waters of the North Sea. The next morning, however, her guard was back
up. She’d stared at him cautiously when he brought her fresh water, flatbread,
smoked meat, and a small crabapple. She ate hungrily, yet her wide eyes
skittered around the ship as if she expected to be attacked at any moment.
When the midday sun had
grown hot, Eirik erected an awning over the stern out of an extra length of
sailcloth. Her pale skin was already flushed pink from being exposed to the
wind, salty air, and sun for two days, but at least she could find relief from
the elements for the remainder of their voyage. She willingly went underneath
the woolen sailcloth awning, which made Eirik’s chest pinch strangely. She
would now be only a few feet away from where he stood at the tiller.
Each night, after she’d
eaten and Eirik had passed the tiller to one of his men, she curled up in his
cloak under the awning. He slept by his sea chest out in the open among the
rest of his crew. But with each passing night, it grew harder for him to sleep.
He even began imagining that he could hear her soft, steady breathing as she
slept several feet away.
Madrena began rolling
her eyes more frequently at him, and Alaric took to watching him with a little
smile on his lips.
“Why don’t you put
yourself out of your misery and go to the girl?” Madrena blurted out when they
were only a day away from Dalgaard.
Eirik’s gaze jerked
away from the horizon and landed on Madrena, who was standing cross-armed in
front of him. He hadn’t even noticed her approaching. Yet he was acutely aware
that Laurel sat behind him , fiddling with a
piece of rope.
Eirik’s mood instantly
darkened at Madrena’s question. “You would have me risk the wrath of the gods
to scratch a bodily itch?” he snapped crossly. That was all it was, anyway—a
physical desire, a natural if presently inconvenient male urge. They’d been at
sea too long. All he needed was a quick tumble—with a willing woman, not a
thrall.
“Nei, I’m not telling
you to insult the gods. But your eyes give you away, Eirik. They follow the
girl everywhere. Why don’t you share the awning with her at night if you want
to?”
Eirik felt a flood of
hot anger surge through him. He couldn’t simply crawl under the awning and
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