Free His Judas Bride by Shehanne Moore

was what she needed, wasn’t it?
    “You remember that bit of paper you signed, Ewen?”
    It was a pertinent question. Her bridegroom was so busy fondling the serving girl’s thighs, he did indeed appear to have forgotten such a piece of paper existed, let alone he had put his name to it. Obviously he had, or Kara would not be here. For the Wolf to have to ask it though, yet made humiliation scorch her spine.
    “About a month ago now?”
    If it had only been defiance, Ewen’s ignoring of him. But it wasn’t. Seconds stretched. Then, being done with fondling the maidservant’s thigh, Ewen again attempted to get back on his feet. That he did not succeed in no way detracted from his efforts. “Aye.”
    “Well, Ewen, it happens this is her.” The Wolf took a step toward him, his face a mask of shadows. “All the way from Edinburgh. Your bride. Lady McGurkie.”
    Kara bent her knees and sank to the dismal flagstones in a formal curtsey, keeping her face as studied a mask as the Wolf’s. If nothing else, finally Ma would be proud. “My lord.” Of the low, rich timbre of Kara’s voice too, the lowered head, downcast eyes. Why, anyone seeing this would think she really had been in Edinburgh.
    “Mah bride?”
    Ewen’s voice was sullied by drink. So sullied Kara could barely understand a word he said. At last, he had noticed her though. Drunk or not, the dimness of the peat-smoked room could no more disguise his eyes glowing like burning coal than it could the glint of silver on the sword hilt the Wolf fingered, she saw, edging her gaze upward and around.
    Her heart hit ever so slightly against her ribcage. She had honestly not expected it to be quite so pronounced.Ewen’s stare, that was.
    Of course, she’d hoped not to have to bed him, given everything she’d heard. That was why seeing how safely accomplished this was, she determined not to dwell on it. To be exactly as she should, no more, no less, to guarantee the futures of all who depended on her. Herself included. Anyway, what was it to sleep with him? With any man now? She wasn’t just cold inside, she was dust and ashes.
    If Ewen expected she would speak, well she would. “Yes, my lord. I am Lady Kara, Chief Ian Dhub’s oldest daughter.” Very nicely too, making no reference to the fact that Chief Ian Dhub’s second and also his youngest had already proved so unexpectedly sticky about signing the agreement, one had said she’d sooner cut off her hand.
    Ma—well, a woman as good as Ma could only be in one place, unlike Kara who was surely destined for hell—Ma, God rest her soul, would be doing cartwheels, if she was watching this.
    Ewen’s bear-like paw strayed toward the whiskey jug. More slopped onto the table than into the wooden goblet. “S’well, s’not before time. Ah was just saying te S’Ulla, here…there…wherever S’Ulla is…ye took yours, madam.”
    Dissatisfied with the mess he was making of the table, Ewen dispensed with the goblet. “Maybe ye were not wanting a sight of me? Eh?” He set the jug down and wiped his mouth.
    Was it Kara’s imagination? Did that hardening of the Wolf’s jaw betoken his desire to go over there and drag Ewen across the floor to stand before her? She prayed not. He was bad enough over there. She did not want him here.
    “Oh, not at all, my lord.” She smiled, not just in the hope of appearing delighted, but in keeping the Wolf where he was. Ewen too. “Now I’m here, I cannot tell you how deeply I regret the delay.”
    No lie. She would sooner have gotten this over by now. Instead of which she still had it all to face.
    “Do ye s’lear that?” Ewen waved the jug at the Wolf. “She likes me. Here, have a drink.”
    “My lord?”
    Did he mean her?
    “Aye. You. Come here.”
    “Yes, of course, my lord.”
    She rose. When she had sworn to be amenable, there was little point in doing anything else but smother the little shudder of unease that swept her spine. The one that rose in her gullet