Captive Mail by Kate Pearce

women leave. I suspect they intend to meet formal y with the king.”
    Had Inga gone with them? Harlan wondered, his thoughts stil hazy. Surely not. She wanted nothing to do with the king or any males.
    “Who else is with you?”
    “Sven and four others.”
    Harlan gripped his arm. “There are many women here who are terrified of men. I hope Sven hasn’t gotten into a kil ing rage.”
    Bron grinned. “Actual y, we found most of the females in one building and managed to lock them down. My ears are stil ringing from the screaming, but as far as I know, no one has been hurt. Now that I’ve found you, we’re to rendezvous with Sven in the forecourt of the temple.”
    He hauled Harlan to his feet. “Can you walk? Have they kept you chained down here for the entire time?”
    “No, I…”
    Bron was already on the move, his sword out and his gaze on the exit. Harlan fol owed along behind, ignoring the aches in his body and the blurriness of his vision. Even through the thickness of the wal s, he could hear the sound of wailing women in the handmaidens’ quarters. He hoped everyone was al right. If Sven were agreeable, maybe he’d let Harlan go and reassure the women as best he could.
    Having fucked every single one of them, he somehow felt responsible.
    The main court in front of the temple was deserted except for an al -too familiar towering figure who strode toward Harlan.
    “Harlan, you’re stil alive, by Thor!” Sven punched Harlan on the shoulder, making him rock on his heels. “What did they do to you? You’re stripped and painted like an offering to the gods.”
    “I am an offering to the gods. The earthly kind.”
    “What?” Sven frowned. “Are they intending to sacrifice you?”
    “No, I avoided that fate.”
    “And you’l continue to avoid it. We’re taking you back home.”
    No! Take your hands off me!”
    A commotion behind Sven made Harlan look up. Another of Sven’s raiding party was escorting Inga down the stairs, her blonde hair had come loose and she was fighting the man at every step.
    man at every step.
    Harlan pushed past Sven. “Release her immediately!”
    Inga pushed her hair out of her eyes and glared at him. “I don’t need your help, male!”
    “Princess, you’ve made that very clear, but I’m going to help you anyway.”
    “By bringing these devils down on us? No doubt they intend to set fire to our temple and ravage al the women.”
    Bron raised an eyebrow, glanced at Sven and then at Harlan. “That was our plan? I thought we just came to save Harlan.”
    “Aye,” Sven said. He nodded at the princess. “And now that we have him, we’l leave you in peace, my lady.”
    “And what have you done to my mother and the rest of the council?” Inga asked, her head held high, her bearing that of a queen. Harlan had never felt so proud of her in his life.
    “I assume that your mother and her council are meeting with my king and queen. Wasn’t that was the purpose of their trip?”
    “You didn’t attack them?”
    Sven frowned at Harlan. “Why does this female assume the worst of us? What have you been tel ing her?”
    “I’ve been tel ing her that al males aren’t violent sex-crazed beasts who yearn to despoil women, but she doesn’t believe me.”
    “If you didn’t fal upon my mother and the council, how did you find your way here?” Inga demanded.
    “We fol owed your spying party home, my lady. It wasn’t that difficult,” Sven answered. “Now, we won’t keep you. I’m sure your mother wil be back shortly.” He bowed.
    “Goodbye, Princess, and I apologize if I frightened any of your womenfolk. Come along, Harlan.”
    Harlan automatical y took a step after Sven and then stopped to look back at Inga.
    “I can’t leave her.”
    “What?” Sven swung around to scowl at Harlan. “Are you bewitched?”
    Harlan kept his gaze fixed on Inga. “I made vows to the princess. She owns my soul.”
    “What about Queen Douglass? Didn’t you make vows to