Angie Arms - Flame Series 03 by The Darkest Flame Page A

turning his back, walked away.  He heard the rush of feet and instinct kicked in, turning quickly his arm rose to defend himself, and with the momentum from his turn, and Alena’s run, the hand that struck her sent her to the ground.
    “Watch yourself L ena.  I can kill you as easily as I can feed you.”
    As Garrick stomped out of the camp he spared a glance to his wife.  Alena’s shouting had awakened her , and she sat staring at him, but beyond shock, the distance was too great for him to detect what else she might be feeling about his display.  He scowled and stepped into the darkness away from the light, and the people who would surely feed off Alena’s defiance.

Chapter 5
     
    Ryann awakened at Garrick’s first angry words and watched the argument unfold before her.  When Alena brought up not only her husband’s heritage , but his scars as well, she became furious at the woman.  When she charged him to attach and he struck her, she found satisfaction in that, glad she had not had to deliver the blow herself.  As soon as he left the camp she made to follow, but Winford stopped her.  She ordered him to stay behind, insisting she would be fine.  However, by the time she entered the woods, there was no sign of Garrick. 
    Why was she drawn to this man beyond recognizing him as her husband?  Perhaps because he wasn’t the old man she had resigned herself to marry.  Perhaps it was because she had seen the flashes of pain , and knew there was some light within the man’s darkness.  She moved around a copse of trees and saw him.  The relief flooded through her at the sight.  He sat on a log, his elbows rested on his knees, his face buried in his hands.  She stopped and watched him, and the truth came to her.  After her ordeal she was more drawn to him than ever.  She had seen evil, and despite this man’s reputation, he was not.
    “What do you do here Ryann?”
    She started at the sound of his voice.  He did not raise his head, but still knew it was she who approached.  Not knowing what to say, she moved closer until she stood before him. 
    “Go back to camp Ryann.”  When she remained where she was , he lifted his head to look up at her.  She watched his eyes search across her bruised face, before colliding with her own.
    She fidgeted with the folds of her tunic , but was unable to look away.  It was as if the only thing that kept her from fleeing was the abyss she looked into.  “I wonder what it is you expect of me,” she said.  He only stared at her, and finally she had to look away from the void.  She looked down at her hands as they twisted, and she forced them open, and rubbed her palms down across the fabric. 
    She moved the final step to him and sank down onto her knees before him, placing herself between his legs.  “As your wife.”  Heart hammering in her chest she raised her eyes and saw that he looked down at her from his rigid position.
    Again, his eyes searched across her face, pausing for the briefest of time on the scratch at her chin.  She pushed away the vision of the blow that created it, and moved just the slightest so his eyes locked with hers.  She drew in a steadying breath.
    “Perhaps,” Garrick began , and she was surprised to hear hesitation come from him.  “You can first tell me what it is you expect of a husband.”
    Quickly she looked away, down at her hands she had twisted in her tunic again.  She released the cloth , and tentatively raised her hand and placed it on his thigh.  He remained rigid, so she dropped her hand away, and sat back on her heels.  It felt again as if he towered over her, looking down on her.  She marveled at how a man with his past could make her feel beneath him.  “I have known my entire life I would marry Lord Lenox, that I was to be a wife.  I wanted to be a good wife, but I did not know if I could be one with him.  I used to dream of how it could be if I had a choice, and what I wanted.”  When he said