Page 30 of Forbidden Desire
“I know, but Elodie, please.” Her fingers tightened around mine. “Promise me something.”
“What?”
“You’ll think before you do something because the men here will make you pay, and it won’t be easy.”
“Okay.” I didn’t know what else to say. This hadn’t been what I’d had in mind when I took the boat out and landed on the island. I’d half wondered if I’d find my sister alive, and while I was thrilled she was safe and well, her caution was concerning.
“It is good to see you.” She managed a small smile, though her grip on my hand never relaxed.
“You, too. We thought you might be dead. I—” My sentence was cut short by the sound of heavy footsteps coming from behind the line of animal furs. Heart hammering, I locked gazes with Desiree just as one of the furs was flung away.
“Here we are.” Another enormous giant loomed over us, his brow rising as he took in the sight of us. “We have a new guest, my love.”
Desiree’s breath accelerated, her gaze lowering as she replied, “Yes, Maighstir.”
Maighstir? That was what she called him?
“Won’t you introduce us?” The dark-haired brute stepped forward, his stare landing on me, and I knew this must be Rasmie, the man who had captured her.
“Rasmie, this is my sister, Elodie.” Desiree gestured toward me. “And El, this is my husband, Rasmie.”
Chapter Fifteen
Rasmie
“SO, YOU HAVE COME FOR your sister?”
I stepped forward, taking in the young woman curled up on my bed. She was younger than my wife by a few years but had the same pleasing face and flowing dark hair.
“Yes.” Her voice conveyed no fear as she looked upon me, and I wondered what the two had been talking about before my arrival.
“You must call Rasmie by his title.”
I smiled at Desiree’s imploring tone. Experience had taught her what happened to wayward women who could not conform to our customs.
“What title?” Elodie’s gaze darted between us.
“He is our maighstir.”
There was little pride in Desiree’s tone as she relayed the information, and I had the sense she was doing so to avoid Elodie falling foul of my rules.
Her sister’s eyebrow arched as she caught my eyes. “Master?”
“Aye, lass. I am master of every soul on this island, and since you came, that now includes you.”
“Well, Maighstir.” Elodie climbed to her feet and faced me, though she still stood at least a foot shorter. “Are you ready to let my sister go?”
“Of course not.” I chuckled. “She is mine now, my wife and soon, the mother of my heirs.”
“She has no choice?” The diminutive woman edged closer, though her tone remained even.
“Elodie.” Desiree hissed a warning, but her sister did not even glance her way. “Remember what I told you.”
“I am only asking why her consent is not required, not only for the marriage but also the right to leave if she chooses.”
“We do things quite differently here.” Whether it was the regular supply of sexual hedonism since Desiree arrived or my amusement at having not one but two spritely women in my chamber, I wasn’t sure—but the truth was I found Elodie’s pitch entertaining. She was being careful not to offend but pressed me for answers to her inquiries. For the first time, I saw what Jeemie might find so fascinating about her. “You shall discover this for yourself.”
“So, you intend to hold me prisoner, too?”