Page 14 of A Wolf's Bargain
Éogan didn’t know what Cora knew—that Cillian Fane had no need of a sword when he could become a beast with sharp teeth and claws at a moment’s notice.
The men were led from the main hall, leaving Cora alone with the infamous Wolf King. He wandered the hall, eyeing the tapestries and decorations as though they were of great interest. He seemed completely at ease, and it made her nervous. At the gate, Éogan had made it sound as though she’d run away from home like a child. Fane had questioned her offer last night, and she’d assured him of its validity. What if he doubted it now?
Thankfully, her father didn’t keep them waiting. Only minutes after Éogan had escorted Fane’s men out, her father and Daniel ran into the room. “Cora! By all the saints, girl, where have you been? I’ve had men out looking everywhere for you!”
Her father took her into his arms, running a hand up her back as though to make sure she was real. Tears pricked the corners of Cora’s eyes, and she didn’t bother trying to stop them from falling. “I’m sorry to worry you, Father,” she said, fighting to speak clearly past the sudden burn in her throat. “I wanted to help, and I—”
“Your daughter came to my camp last evening with a proposition. I accepted and have come to negotiate in good faith.” Fane’s voice cut off whatever explanation Cora might have given. He approached them, still totally at ease despite the heated glare from her father.
“What’s the meaning of this? What proposition?”
Fane looked at Cora expectantly, and she realized that he meant for her to explain. Of course, he did. He probably found it amusing to make her squirm. He probably hoped she’d stutter and stumble and sob her way through her story like a frightened little girl. Well, he’d be disappointed.
She wiped her eyes and stepped away from her father. “I heard what you said to Daniel in your study—that a marriage might provide safety for our people if the English invade. I cannot fight in that battle, Father, but I can help by forging an alliance. You reached out to Master Fane for help...”
“For help! For protection in exchange for coin! Not for my only daughter’s hand! Christ Almighty, what have you done, Cora?”
Cora dug her fingernails into the soft flesh of her palm. “I did what needed to be done. Fane and his men can save our people, Father. You said it yourself! What else was there to offer but myself? What else do we have to offer?”
It was an opening—one she hoped that her father would notice. Perhaps if he offered Fane more money, or land, or anything else, she could still get out of her disastrous agreement. It was a fine line to walk, trying to defend her decision while praying that her father might be able to help undo it.
Her father’s shoulders slumped just as they had when she’d hidden in his study the day before. He stared at her, anguish etched into every corner of his face. All hope she had of his help disappeared in an instant. There would be no rescue from the Wolf King.
Fane chose that moment to speak. She’d almost forgotten that he was in the room, listening to everything they said. She’d been so focused on her father that he hadn’t mattered. Now that she understood there would be no way out of her bargain, he mattered quite a bit.
“Well, now that we’ve gotten all that out of the way. Shall we discuss the terms of this arrangement, then? Preferably before we’re old and gray.”
Cora frowned. “What terms? We’ve already agreed on the terms.”
Fane continued as though she hadn’t spoken at all, completely ignoring her question. “Now, your daughter has offered her hand in exchange for protection for your people and lands in the likely event of Edwin and forces dropping by for a bit more than a cup of tea. If I were a man without honor—as you and yours seem to think—I wouldn’t point out that she failed to mention the terms of that protection. If I were the villainous sort, I’d leave a handful of men behind with strict orders to scarper off if the tides of battle changed. Then I’d ride off into the sunset with my swooning bride, safe in the knowledge that I’d met my part of the bargain.”
“Swooning? How dare—”
Her father’s hand at her wrist stopped the scathing words before they could leave her mouth. Shame fanned the flames of her anger as the realization of just how foolish she’d been. She’d been so naive. She’d had such grand, vainglorious plans of solving all of their problems, but the awful truth was that Fane was right. She’d gone in so blinded by her own pride and desperation that she’d made mistakes that she might now be unable to amend. After all was said and done, she might have to marry the man—the monster—in front of her and still leave her people unprotected.
Her father squeezed her wrist as though he could hear her thoughts. He’d gone pale but showed no other outward sign that he’d been bothered by Fane’s words. “What is it you want, Fane?” he asked. “You’re already taking my daughter—my blood. What more could you want? Money? I offered you that. Land? Precious jewels?”
Fane casually crossed his arms and smiled. “I want to bargain for an arrangement that benefits us both. You need my help to keep your lands safe. It’s Edwin now, but what about next time? Think he’s the onlyeedjitwith eyes on this land? You’ve not got the trained manpower to protect yourself, and it’s only a matter of time until some knob with half a brain takes notice. Hell, Fergus, my men and I could take the lot by force if the fancy struck us. Lucky for you, I’ve never had a yearning to lead peasants and rot away in a castle.”
Her father didn’t so much as twitch at Fane’s stark appraisal of their circumstances, but hearing him speak so candidly about taking their home sent shards of icy fear running up Cora’s spine.
Her father wrinkled his nose as though he’d smelled something bad. “Oh aye, lucky indeed. And what is it you’ve a yearning for, then?”
Fane turned his stare on Cora. “Land. Our own land, separate from any ruling or oversight from your lordship. My people enjoy a fair bit of freedom and access to the wilds, but no lord or king has ever allowed the luchthonn to settle on their lands. We’ve roamed like wolves for eons, but a man wants a den to call his own. Especially when he’s got a lovely wife to come home to.”
Fane’s playful wink in her direction nearly sent Cora into a screaming rage. It wasn’t enough that he’d frightened her out of her mind by revealing the truth of his... curse, or whatever it was. Wasn’t enough that he’d allowed her to make an absolute fool of herself without any of this ‘good faith’ he’d shown her father. Now he’d antagonize her in front of her father and use her mistakes to gain Kilkenny lands for himself. If her father hadn’t been holding her wrist, she might have lobbed one of her shoes at his head. It wouldn’t hurt him, but it’d feel fantastic just to see his cheeky smirk wiped off his face for a moment. She’d show him aswooningbride!
Her father scoffed. “And I’m meant to believe that if I give your people land to call their own, you’ll show up anytime there’s a need and protect us like your own? And that after your remark of leaving a few lads to—what was it—scarper off in the midst of a battle if the tide turns?”
“Believe what you like, Kilkenny. I’ve not deceived you in any way in our dealings—I made no promises and was clear in my rejection of the previous offer. I’ve come in good faith to see an agreement made that gives us both what we need. You need protection, and the luchthonn are the best. I need land for my people and a marriage to secure the alliance between our two peoples.”
Her father released her wrist and stroked his beard thoughtfully. “What need have you of this marriage if you get your lands? Is that not enough to lend us your sword arms when there is need?”
Fane’s expression turned sly and decidedly wolfish. “Now, now, Fergus. You’ll be getting more than a few lads with spears and swords, and you know it.”
Cora glanced at her father curiously as she rubbed where he’d gripped her so tightly. Did he...was it possible that he knew about Fane and his men? About the monsters? And if he did, why in heaven’s name would he have tried to employ the man rather than send all the knights of Ireland after him? Surely the priests would declare it witchcraft or the work of demons. How could her father know and still want Fane’s help?
“A subject best spoken of in private,” her father said stiffly.