Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

A fter Kai had brought Magnus what he needed, he and Ciara had headed off towards the trail. They had been walking for what felt like hours already and it was growing colder. Ciara’s breath coming out in plumes of steam and hands still bound at her waist, she trudged through the forest with the large man at her back. Her sword hung on his back beneath the pack slung over his shoulder and her dagger had been tucked away in his boot. If she was going to escape, she’d have to do it without her familiar blades, which meant she was going to have to find a weapon in the woods around her and wait for her opportunity to strike.

“Ye’ve nae told me why ye’re doin’ this tae me,” she said over her shoulder.

The man said nothing. He wouldn’t even meet her eyes. He just kept walking along, head down, brooding. Ciara’s eyes lingered on him for a moment and she felt a rush of warmth fill her heart as her stomach turned over on itself. She’d felt that same thing when they’d grappled earlier, and she’d been pressed against him.

Ciara struggled to understand it now as much as she had then. Perhaps even more now. He was the enemy, somebody who sought to abduct and spirit her off to parts unknown to do only God knew what with her. She should be terrified—and she was. But beneath that current of fear was something else, something warm. Something she didn’t understand. All Ciara knew was that she should not be feeling any sort of warmth toward a man taking her away at the tip of a blade. And yet, as she looked at the large man with the broad shoulders and crystalline blue eyes, she couldn’t deny the flutter that rippled through her heart all the same.

“Ye can at least tell me where we’re goin’ eh?” she tried again. “I’m yer captive and cannae go anywhere thanks tae yer knots, so what’s the harm then?”

“What does it matter if ye ken where we’re goin’?” he finally asked.

“Call me a curious lass.”

“Bein’ curious ain’t always wise.”

Ciara glanced over her shoulder and when her eyes meet his, she felt a jolt tear through her. It felt as if she’d been hit by lightning. Her legs trembled and she stepped on the rock, twisting her ankle awkwardly. With a sharp cry, Ciara fell. Before she hit the ground though, Magnus’ large hands plucked her out of mid-air and kept her from landing on the jagged stones that dotted the trail. She let out a breath of relief as he set her down on her feet and for a moment, felt that now-familiar surge of warmth that started in the pit of her belly and spread through her. It wasn’t… unpleasant.

Ciara turned her gaze to him and found Magnus staring back at her. There was something in his eyes, something that told her he felt the same things she was feeling, and she had the almost overpowering urge to kiss him. But then she gave herself a small shake. She had never kissed a man before and she decided that her first kiss was certainly not going to be given to a man who was holding her captive. A frown curling her lips, Ciara shook his hands off her and glowered at him.

“Get yer bleedin’ hands off me,” she growled.

The corner of his mouth turned upward. “Fine. Next time I’ll let ye fall ontae the sharp lookin’ rocks then. How’d that be, lass?”

“This trail would be a lot easier tae walk if ye untied me hands.”

“I’m sure ye’d like me tae dae that, wouldnae ye?” he said in a teasing tone. “What kind of fool dae ye take me fer, lass?”

Her eyes narrowed to slits and her lips pulled back over her teeth. “Dae ye really want me tae answer that, ye bleedin’ oaf?”

Magnus shook his head and chuckled. “Get on about walkin’ on then.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then I’ll sling ye over me shoulder like a sack of laundry and carry ye the rest of the way,” he replied. “It’d be quite undignified fer a lady, I assure ye.”

“I ain’t a lady.”

The man pursed his lips and looked at her thoughtfully. “Ye’re a lot of things, fer sure,” he said. “But ye’re definitely a lady as well.”

Not wanting to see her cheeks coloring with the warmth that rushed to her face, Ciara turned away quickly and began to walk on. Her ankle though, felt dodgy, and pain shot up her leg with every step she took. She gritted her teeth and soldiered on though, unwilling to show him the least bit of weakness. The air around her was growing positively frigid, which seemed to be it even more painful to walk.

His loud sigh echoed in her ears. Ciara tried to ignore it and press on, but his large hand fell upon her shoulder. Magnus stopped her and turned her to face him. He looked down at her, not with anger, but with a compassion in his eyes that surprised her. Almost immediately, Ciara’s heart quivered and her belly filled with warmth once more. She silently chastised herself for it.

“Ye’re bleedin’ limpin’,” he said.

“Me ankle hurts.”

“Then why didnae ye say somethin’?”

“Would it have mattered?”

He frowned. “Sit down on that log there. We’ll rest up fer a minute.”

Ciara sat down grudgingly and folded her arms over her chest, trying to keep the cold air from seeping into her bones. Magnus knelt down beside her and gently took her foot, raising it up and setting it down on his knee. She jerked her leg back, but Magnus reached out and pulled it forward again, giving her an exasperated look.

“What in the bleedin’ hell are ye doin’?” she snapped.

“I’m goin’ tae wrap yer ankle if ye’d stop squirmin’ about.”

Ciara nearly jerked her foot back again but then hesitated finally relented, allowing Magnus to wrap a thick bandage around her ankle. She grimaced as he pulled the bandage tight then tied it off.

“All right. Stand up and see how it feels,” he said.

Ciara got to her feet and tested out her ankle. It was still sore but she had to begrudgingly admit that having it immobilized by the tight wrap made it more tolerable.

“Better?” he asked.

“Aye,” she replied. “I suppose.”

Chuckling to himself, Magnus stood and slung his pack over his shoulder again and settled his sword on his hip then gestured to the path.

“Let’s go then,” he said.

“This would be a lot easier if ye unbound me.”

“Nice try. Let’s go.”

“Are ye always so disagreeable?”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “Probably.”

Ciara grinned despite herself but quickly turned away and walked on. As she did, she continued fumbling with the ropes, trying to slip out of them. Magnus though, had apparently learned from his previous mistake and bound her wrists with a knot she couldn’t wriggle out of. He was smart. Learned from his mistakes. Along with his size, speed, and skill with a blade, that made him formidable. If Ciara was going to get away from him, she was going to have to use her head. She was going to have to outthink him, to outmaneuver him.