Courtesy of an ambush

Richard held her against him possessively, taking a deep breath. The stunning mind pieced together sentences. Who wanted to kill him like that?

"Oh, Thalagar's orders were very clear. No one knew she was a girl, but neither should anyone approach her. Or touch her." Philip's orders? Everything got complicated. Cassie could also control guardians...

- It's okay, Cassie. I'm here now. - He spoke slowly trying to calm down. - Dealing with guardians is never very easy... Without practice...

Sorcerers were natural empaths. Her anger was only going to increase her fear of his proximity. His face against hers burned. She was hot. Cassie was burning with a high fever. She needed to make sure the girl didn't invoke the guardian as a defense.

- Zagorra...

He needed to get the damn fever down even without Padraic's meds. As soon as possible or the girl like that was going to have seizures. All that was missing was a guardian there scaring the crew.

-Don't tell him, Zagorra. He cannot know. -She murmured.

Ah, what the hell couldn't he find out? She felt like screaming at the height of frustration. Was she sure to discover some treachery on the part of the woman? She shook his hand with veiled curiosity. She did spells with the guardians. It did, didn't it?

Kassuim looked at him without seeing him with a glazed and clouded gaze. All the effort sapped his strength. He was going to have to find a way to feed her. Her small body was shaken by uncontrollable tremors.

- Zagorra, he's in the cave. They can't find him before my father gets here. The man is crazy. Go kill the captain of Gaia. Philip went crazy.

- Dear God. - He exclaimed astonished.

The girl was passing out again, shivering uncontrollably in his arms. The damn fever was too high. He cursed again as he carried her to the tub of cold water... He put her on, clothes and all, bathing her head. The protests came back weak and disconnected.

She was delirious. Rick cursed at the height of his fury. The rescue escort had arrived, but first, they had taken his wife. She might have walked away when she was surprised. God! Why hadn't she screamed for help?

"Because they threatened to kill you, Richard Morgan. They threatened my wife with it. What did they want?"

-No... Don't touch me. Take your hands off me…" she complained quietly.

- Quiet.

-No, I do not want. Hands off...

He was freaking out. He took several deep breaths as the assumptions came to mind. Unable to believe it. She was delirious. She didn't know what she was talking about.

He touched her tense face in a gentle caress, feeling the temperature slowly drop. The wound was not inflamed. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the tremors were starting to subside. He was shivering as he was put to bed. She was too exhausted to physically protest as he helped her into a dry shirt. He took in her listless form as she dried her aching body, grinding word for word.

They hadn't discovered anything at the time. It was a simple gesture of his that made him recoil immobile as if he had been the target of a physical blow. The sound of fabric ripping caught the girl's attention. Her eyes expressed fear. Rick was just trying to wrap the woman up, however...

-Don't touch me... No... Don't hurt me anymore...

The supplication was low mmmm Her fragile and helpless vision could hardly be compared to a strong and rebellious personality. His insides revolted; the words crushing his mind as if he'd been punched multiple times. Don't touch... Hands off... Mercy! What the hell else had happened that damn day? If he got his hands on Philip...

She hadn't left then willingly. Less pleasant assumptions arose and he felt his world crumble. Her words echoed in his ears. Who? Thalagar? Who had found her?

He was going to kill Thalagar with absolute certainty. He hugged her thoughtfully. The girl had undoubtedly been taken against her will. Worse than that, he was beginning to appreciate why she hadn't come to him in those months. The most terrible. There had probably been a failed rape attempt. The damned harassment... If Philip crossed your path...

-I will not hurt my beautiful. - You promised very seriously.

Slowly and under suspicious glances he had managed to convince her to put on her shirt with great difficulty. Redressing the bandage had been another challenge. Richard constantly demanded control, muscles tense and quivering with insane rage. She was delirious. None of that was true. It couldn't be...

The low temperature was starting to make her very pale face stand out and she was shivering despite the extra blankets. Probably still the effects of ICHICHO's attack. Ah, it was going to be another night like that. No wonder the guardians had listened to the girl's command for protection and...

- Cold...

- Did I complain about the axe? – he grumbled.

He hadn't managed to get the woman to drink even half a cup of soup. Sighing, he lay down beside her, pulling her against him. He was going to heat her too fast with her body heat. She cringed vulnerably. Richard closed his eyes in torment. This couldn't just be a delusion. If that damn bastard had had the gall to attack his wife like that..., he... He...

His fingers delved into her unruly hair, while his other hand slid down her back. The unreal scene brought back more pleasant memories. She used to lie beside him in the cave while they talked about home and family. She talked about how much she hated forced exile. Maybe it was the sound of her voice. He repeated the same process, noticing her tense muscles relax, snuggling against him. A smile came to her face.

-Rick ...-His name in that tempting mouth sounded like music. Did she also talk in her sleep? - Is he... is... Rick! Need to push Phil away...

- Try to sleep, a chroi. – He kissed her forehead; her body was on fire at her proximity. The girl molded him to perfection. He groaned hoarsely.

- Rick...

He sighed. Devastating heat invaded him. The unconscious girl curled around him like a contented cat seeking warmth and protection.

Richard could feel the blood pounding in his veins, his virility completely rigid, and his body scorched as if scalded in hot oil. Control, he was in control of the situation. Only the woman brushing against him for warmth was killing him.

His mind went back to the past. The fire was still gently crackling in the nearby fire. He heard nothing but the creak of wood and the sound of the dawning day. His slow movements were more coordinated. He was beginning to see even though they were blurred images. The prospect of returning to the ship made him alert. He had decided to abandon the Armada. The woman in his arms slept peacefully and he sighed with the night full of discoveries. The children… The initial shock. He had never considered the possibility that the girl was innocent. The satisfaction of it was unexpected and insurmountable. That girl belonged to him.

They were in Chabone and the vows were perfectly valid. Ah, he intended to come to Scarlet and celebrate the marriage in wolf tradition with a great feast. William would be surprised by that. It would be great to cheer everyone up after Faith's terrible death. With war and flight... They deserved a big celebration...

But none of that had happened. He was alone when the escort arrived. Annoyed, he'd ordered perimeter searches without finding anything. There were no signs of a struggle. She had just disappeared.

He also remembered Padraic's warnings. It was clear that there would be no signs of a struggle if the girl had been forced to leave to ensure his safety. She had kept her distance from him and was probably still threatened. Why was he beginning to believe that Cassie's estrangement had Thalagar's intervention? Of course, with all courtesy of old scoundrel Phil...

After all, what had happened? She was by no means going to tell that willingly. Only he wanted answers.

Richard Morgan slept and dreamed. And remembered.

The cave was dark but he wouldn't be able to see it anyway. Since the bandage on his eyes had been removed, he could only differentiate blurred shapes. She was confident in assuring that gradually the sight would return. The other wound on her chest no longer hurt as much and he was slowly able to move.

There was no reason to extend their stay in that cave. It was dangerous and he worried about her. It would be reasonable to ask the Gypsies for help. Their boss Vladimir was an old family friend. But even so, he hesitated to leave that refuge. But the kids...

- It is better to gradually return to activity. He's recovering faster than he could have imagined. - The female voice reached her ears.

Rick sighed in exasperation at the enforced inactivity. Those caves were close to the gypsy village and the extinct volcano provided pleasant natural pools of hot water within the caves nearby.

He took a deep breath. He could smell her and also her scent. It was an undefined and unusual mixture. Red roses, lavender, and something else... Soft and exciting.

He moved his arms slowly, satisfied with the pleasant sensation of the water covering his body up to his chest, and carefully dove in.

In the morning they would leave. She had told him that they had been there for almost a month. He hardly remembered. He had been attacked and left in the forest to die. If not for her...

Was it cinnamon that smelled mixed with her perfume? He shook his head dumbly. He knew that smell. Your natural wolf instincts should be on alert for danger. Just what he felt were very different things. Either he was wrong or that girl was a sorceress. This time there were no more excuses.

One month? The brothers believed with certainty that he was dead. She hadn't looked for help. And that smell? It was getting stronger and stronger. The girl was using magic on the portions and her wounds.

He remembered the soft lap that had snuggled his head during the nights early on. He enjoyed the gentle hands that applied compresses and bathed his body to soothe the scalding fever. And he heard the melodious voice that sang, distracting his mind from the hellish pain.

-Where are you? he asked suddenly.

He was impatient. He desperately wanted to see that angel of mercy's features again. He needed to know he was okay. And ensure your safety. Sorcerers used to be hunted. In general, they lived in hiding. He wanted to know...

A light hand touched her shoulder. His fingers slid in the same direction, gripping her wrist, noticing a small scar.

It didn't matter if she was a sorceress. He was sure she was a unique woman: well-bred, refined, and a lady. . She wasn't going to just disappear from his life as if she never existed.

She never strayed far for fear he might fall or get hurt. With unexpected agility, he turned and in the next moment, he was pulling the woman into the warm water.

One month!? Her reputation would be ruined when her whereabouts were discovered. She was alone in the company of a man who was not her husband. Richard also intended to make sure that her own family would take her in and protect her despite her being a sorceress. They were in the 18th century. Customs changed. He had no intention of letting her go.

-Oh! - she was surprised to feel the body in the water. Her clothes were soaked. - You should be resting. - And her voice was strained.

- You are bossy, miss. -He teased.- Just for a change, let's put that aside now, she short.

Her hand touched the silky smooth skin, her arm was delicate and graceful. It felt so good to know that his closeness affected her. She noticed her involuntary shudder, her ragged breath. It pleased him. Very slowly, she slid her fingers until she reached her hair partially unbound, curly and soft. He hated when she wore the damn bonnet or cap. She never knew the color...

She was in front of him. Richard could feel his own body burning with maddening heat. He pulled her to count himself until he rested his head thoughtfully on her forehead. He pleasantly noticed her arms around her neck.

Good. It was going to be easier than I could have imagined.