It had been two days and he hadn't shown any signs of improvement. Kassuim despaired imagining the effects of the spell cast. He was a wolf. He naturally needed blood to help regain strength. And it was forbidden. No wolf should ever feed on a human's blood.
All-day the vigil was devoted to his every noisy breath in fear that it would be his last. The minutes dragged by. It was in the afternoon that she was startled. There was movement on the bed. He moved.
-Who are you? Morgan hissed low. There was someone else there.
He had always imagined that his fate might be hell. A place that awaited warriors like him. He had devoted himself in life to pleasure, adventure and war. Curse! His body burned in excruciating pain. It was wolf grass. The realization of that surprised him. He didn't remember being smitten with wolfsbane.
He sharpened his senses by letting his sensitive hearing picked up the sounds around him. It was the first time in days that he was fully aware. Ah, there was a deep cut on his leg that bothered him every time he tried to move.
The thing that irritated him was the reduced and impaired vision. All he could see was a blurred, indistinct blur he could make out shapes. He would have expected anything but that.
The man took a deep breath. He could curse. His steady handheld what he would have guessed was a little boy. His fingers were squeezing the creature's throat hard enough. Silk, apple and jasmine. He had the airy sensation of tearing soft silk.
Hell! Are they a woman?
His limp hand dropped, followed by a low expletive hearing a loud gasp followed by a cough.
Curse! He could very easily have strangled the woman.
-I...
It was hell. He could now clearly hear her racing heartbeat. He had most definitely scared the girl. He tried to sit up and cursed furiously.
-How long am I in this bed?
- It hasn't been that long. – Kassuim explained, taking a deep breath.
Morgan grumbled again. His leg hurt. No, the whole body was uncomfortable. He was not a man used to being in bed.
-No. – He asked regretfully. - I didn't mean to... I'm sorry.
The words were spoken very calmly followed by a muffled sigh. To Kassuim's disappointment, he settled back on the pillows, seeming to fall asleep again. She chided herself for not taking the opportunity to feed him a meal stronger than the thick beef and corn broth she had been spoon-feeding him on the healer's recommendation.
-You better be quiet. It will open...
He grunted, touching the bandage covering his eyes with more distaste. Before Kassuim could complain, he would rip off the shield with an impatient hand. The memories were starting to come back very slowly. She naturally felt impatient. The little beauty who looked at him suspiciously was not part of the executioner's infernal sessions. It was unfortunate that the vision blurred, yet two glowing green gems gleamed in surprise in front of him. He looked back at the girl, hiding a smile. shorts. Did she wear shorts?
-Who is .... Who are you? he asked panting in pain.
Kassuim stopped dead. It was a disappointment. It was a relief. At least, not knowing who she was, she didn't feel obliged to tell him the truth.
-What a hell! That leg throbs. I want a damn drink! He grunted angrily.
The girl sighed, steeling herself with patience. He was a man and showed no signs of being an obedient patient. Drink? Yeah. She watched him clench his jaw, take a deep breath and sit up with another muffled curse. God! Did he intend to get up?
-Can I bring you more broth… - she suggested. - What do you think you are doing?
Morgan swore again, staggering and in a cold sweat. The blanket... He wasn't wearing any clothes. Damn them, sorcerers! I was so weak...
-Where are my clothes? - Richard cursed.
-You won't get out of this bed! - Kassuim revolted as he put his hands on his hips, ordering energetically.
He shook his head. He didn't know the girl. He would naturally remember those breath-taking green eyes. Her hair was like a cascade of fire falling loose over her shoulders.
He had imagined surrendering a man, perhaps a guard. Her neck was so soft, easy to break. He probably should have hurt her. He held the blanket tightly around her waist.
- Well, try it! - he complained again like an old and grumpy bear.
His wobbly legs protested as he supported the weight of his massive body. It was necessary to hold on to the bedpost with extreme effort. In the next instant, the girl had run to him. hell! She was not a baby that was going to fall to the floor.
-Where are the damn clothes? - he grumbled again.
The precarious balance didn't help. His head was stuffed with cotton. It was the leg that hurt. He fell off balance, bringing the girl with him onto the mattress, cursing all the worst curses he knew.
-Let me go!
Kassuim's eyes widened in surprise. Even weakened, the man possessed enormous strength. He sucked in a startled breath. He was quick with his reflexes from him. He hadn't expected it. He grabbed her wrists with one hand and lifted her arms above her head.
-I'll release it when I see fit! - he replied. - Where are we? And who are you?
He was very aware of the taut body beneath her, now soft and supple. It was a temptation. She was petite with tempting curves that moulded to perfection against him.
He could feel her fresh breath through her parted lips. Unable to resist her fingers dug into her hair tousled against the white linen of the sheets. It was a sight capable of stirring thoughts... But their proximity had made her nervous. She twitched against him, rubbing his soft body against hers, trying to free herself. Her delicate breasts brushed her chest against the fabric of the shirt she wore. Wasn't the girl wearing a corset?
-Curse! It's better to be quiet. I'm still a man of flesh and bones. You will find this out very quickly if...
-Let me go. – Kassuim ordered furiously.
He didn't even know her to stand there flirting and joking. Damn it! It was a brute. She gasped, noticing the firm hand that moved down the curve of her neck indignantly. Did he dare? Conqueror bastard! He stopped dead in fear that the man would find the mark left on her skin.
-It's just beautiful like that, furious, honey.
-Don't you dare call me that!
-It makes me want to tease you all the time. Morgan admitted, taking a deep breath.
Her scent... The sweet, delicate scent was on her sheets.
He'd thought it was part of the hallucinations, the soft, pleasant body next to his as he tortured himself in pain and cold. The delicate hands that bathed his scalding body with cold compresses… That girl could have made him suffer. She certainly wasn't innocent enough to take care of a man here alone. The generous lips were an invitation.
Kassuim turned away, disgusted with himself. She should punch him. Oh, she sure as hell preferred the unfortunate unconscious man. Imagine! He'd dared to try to flirt with the first woman he met.
-You better let me go, sir! His voice was shaky with anger. She wouldn't answer for her actions if he tried to kiss her. His quickened breathing was starting to radiate vibrations through her. – Well, let me go now! You won't charm me like the others with a kiss. You certainly weren't the first and you won't be the last.
Morgan arched his brows in uncomprehending irritation.
-You have the sharp tongue of a viper, lass. Likes to say dangerous things.
-What difference does? - she provoked him hurt.
The young woman stiffened icy as she heard the affectionate way he always called her in the hours of passion. Damn man! Did the unfortunate miss the opportunity to flirt with any woman? Her change in mood was not indifferent. There was another more frustrating detail that caught Morgan's attention. The green eyes held a sudden terrible hurt for someone who had previously responded to kisses from him.
Do I know this girl?
-Please... - This time she asked softly.
He will betray you. You will find...
- Cassie...
Morgan took a deep breath, pulling away with a groan. Her thoughts became more lucid as she looked with frustration at the room where he was. It was one of the huts in the gipsy village. Another sigh could make him swear again. The girl had been taking care of him. She had almost betrayed Vlad's trust by seducing a young woman under his roof. Hell! How old was she?
Please tell me she's been kissed before! What the hell am I doing? Her scent...
Everything was disorienting. It was like returning to the world of the living...
Cassie! Richard struggled to organize his confused thoughts...
A moment's distraction and the girl slipped out of his hands. She needed to apologize and make amends for a terrible mistake. But the effort finally took his strength and his head lolled on the pillows. A terrible cold was starting to irritate him again.
Kassuim leaned with shaky legs against the wall and her heart pounding. He was a wolf. He wasn't going to get his strength back on human food alone. As any wolf should be thirsty. She watched his breathing become heavy and let his body slide against the wall and sat there.