Bakra Bride by N. J. Walters

towards her. Jane continued to stare at the back of her horse’s head. She was angry enough to scream at Zaren. Plus, her behind and her legs were completely numb.
    “Jane.” His voice was soft and cajoling, but she still refused to look at him. “There is nothing to fear here.”
    Fine. Dandy. He thought she was afraid. She didn’t know what was worse. Allowing him to believe she was scared or telling him she couldn’t move. “I’m not afraid.” Damn her pride anyway.
    “Then come inside.”
    “I’d love to come inside,” she finally looked at him and almost cried at the soft concern in his eyes. “There’s just one slight problem.”
    “What?”
    Sighing, Jane waited for the explosion that was sure to come. “I can’t move.”

Chapter Nine
    Hours later, Jane shivered as she remembered Zaren’s reaction. Even though she knew that his anger hadn’t been directed at her but at himself for not recognizing her difficulty on the trip, it still made her tremble. He hadn’t yelled or berated her at all. His pale blue eyes had glittered like ice and his softly whispered words had made her flinch. “What do you mean?”
    It had taken all of her courage to meet his glacial gaze, but she’d done it. Barely. She felt flayed alive by his controlled anger. She didn’t dare wonder what he’d be like if his temper ever slipped its reins. He was scary enough as it was. “I…um…my backside and legs are numb,” she finally blurted.
    The vein in the side of his temple pulsed and he actually growled at her as he plucked her off the saddle in one motion. Jane couldn’t suppress the moan of pain as the movement caused a sensation much like pins and needles pricking at her skin to run up and down her legs.
    Zaren said nothing, but the muscles in his jaw were working hard as he shifted her high against his chest and stalked back up the stairs. He glared at his host and his brother as if daring them to say anything. “Where is our mother?”
    “She is upstairs with Jarmon.” Jane could see that Jarek was trying hard to swallow back his laughter and Bador looked concerned and amused at the same time. This was not the kind of first impression she’d been hoping to make.
    “Put me down, I can walk,” she whispered in his ear, not wanting to draw further attention to her.
    “No.” His voice was strong and firm as he walked straight through the huge wooden door and into the cooler interior of the castle.
    So much for not drawing attention. Both Jarek and Bador turned to look at them and Bador cocked a questioning brow. Jane frowned at him and shook her head before turning to their host and smiling at him. She could see the beginnings of a smile as he turned and continued on up the stairs.
    “What do you mean, no? Put me down,” she whispered furiously in his ear.
    “You’ll fall flat on your face and then I’ll have to carry you anyway.” She feared he was right, but that was beside the point.
    “What will your mother think?” She was mortified at what his mother would think of her.
    “She’ll likely give us a lecture on not taking better care of you.” There was an affectionate humor in his words and he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. “And she’d be right. In our hurry to get here, we did not take enough care with you.”
    She didn’t like the fact that he was blaming himself for her condition. “It was my decision to say nothing.”
    “Yes, it was your decision, but I still should have noticed your discomfort.” Before she could respond to his outrageous statement, he was carrying her into what was obviously a bedroom. The room was hushed and she could sense the desperation in the air.
    There was a man lying in the bed with two women, one middle-aged and one around Jane’s age, seated next to him. Bador was leaning over the older woman, brushing a kiss across her cheek. Jane’s stomach clenched as she watched him comfort her.
    There was a movement in the shadows on the far side of