Chapter 11

A sharp rapping on the door made Tavik lower the sword. Naomi let out a sigh of relief and edged back a little. Tavik cursed vehemently as he went to answer it. He swung the door open and filled the door frame with his body. Naomi could just make out Yula on the other side.

The woman cowered on the other side in a long gown and lace sleeping cap. “Is everything all right, my lord? I thought I heard a scream.”

“Everything is fine. Naomi received a fright.”

“A fright from what?” Yula persisted as she caught sight of Naomi sprawled still on the floor.

“A fright from me. Will that be all, Yula?”

The older woman's eyes shot to Naomi again. Lord knows what she thought. Naomi wanted the servant to stay but knew it was pointless. She was as powerless as Naomi.

"Does my lord need anything?" the servant asked.

"No, you may return to your quarters. Please do not trouble yourself with any further noises you hear from this room."

The color drained from Yula's face. "Noises, my lord?"

"Good night, Yula." Tavik closed the door on her horrified face.

The masked lord turned back to Naomi. Feeling very vulnerable on the floor, Naomi jumped to her feet. If she was going to die, she wanted to be on her feet.

“Tell me, what did you think you were doing?” he demanded.

Naomi swallowed nervously as her eyes darted around. This was bad, and she did not see a way out. Her thoughts were obvious. She wanted to get out of there. Tavik leaned back against the door, the only exit in the room, other than the chimney.

Naomi considered the chimney for a moment but discarded the idea when she imagined herself getting stuck. He would probably stack wood for a fire rather than pull her out.

“What does Agatha want you to do?” Tavik asked.

Naomi’s eyes flew to him at the question. What was the deal between him and Agatha? She was just some old woman, sure pretty damned feisty, but he was this big bad warrior. “I told you. She tricked me.”

He straightened from the door and took a step toward her. “I will spare you if you simply tell me.”

Naomi’s eyes fell to the sword, and she began to shake at the reverse threat. She had no answer to his question, not even a possible lie. He was going to kill her. She crumbled to the floor and wrapped herself into a tight ball. She was going to die.

“Naomi,” he said.

She lifted her head from her tightly wound arms. Her face was wet with tears. “I don’t know anything. When I woke up, I thought I was home. I swear. I wasn’t trying to get the drop on you. I was confused.”

Tavik knelt down in front of her. “How am I supposed to believe you?” he asked.

Naomi’s face twisted in frustration and fear. “I don’t know,” she choked and buried her face again against her arms. He rose back to his feet and sat down on the bed.

She shivered as the cold stone floor leeched away all her warmth, but she was not going to move. Her nails dug into her arms where she clasped them. She was as good as dead. She wanted to laugh. She never stood a chance. She would have happily left him alone and never cared to take a look at his stupid face, but she had forgotten everything in her sleep. She had been practically sleepwalking when he'd caught her.

“Naomi.” She didn't raise her head. Her thoughts were spiraling down a dark mental drain.

“Naomi,” Tavik repeated a little louder.

She finally heard him and peeked up at him cautiously. She was sniffling with tears dribbling out of her eyes.

“I must be sure you will not try something like that again,” he said.

Naomi did not respond but continued to stare at him.

“I need assurance you will not do that again.”

“I promise I won’t. I swear,” Naomi said, but her voice was small. It held no conviction. She had promised before but look where that had gotten her. It seemed pointless.

“I need more assurance than that.” He rose from the bed and strode to a chest on the far wall. He flipped it opened and reached inside. She watched him as he drew out sheets and began ripping them into long strips. She knew where this was headed, and she knew protesting would be useless. He came and stood over her.

“Get in the bed, Naomi."

Naomi jerked at the request. She had assumed he would tie her to the chair or just tie her up and leave her on the floor.

“What?”

He indicated the strips of cloth. “It will be easiest to tie you to the bed.”

“Can’t we do something else?”

“Get in the bed.”

Naomi went to the bed. She sat down with a sad rueful laugh. She looked up and shook her head. “It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours, and you’ve already broken the deal. I knew it was too good to be true.”

“Lay down."

Continue to Chapter 12.