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Then he left her alone, disappearing down the tunnel.

Chapter 8

Rurik expected that once he turned away from her and left her to be alone, that at some point while he wandered his lair he might find her crying in a corner, like some blubbering, annoying, defenceless little girl.

That is not what he found.

After some time apart, he instead found her crawling through one of his treasure hoards. He didn’t know what she was trying to find because it obviously wasn’t the coins and jewels she carelessly threw behind her as she dug.

He tried not to admit that her arse pointed towards the ceiling while her feet dangled in the air behind her was cute. He really did, especially when he was trying to figure out what she was up to.

Does she think something here will help her escape?

The sounds of someone grunting as they struggled echoed in the alcove she was digging through. It was smaller than the one she’d woken up in.

He hadn’t been able to remember how he’d gotten that darn bed into that treasure room, so he’d eventually just laid her down on it. Rurik had half-expected her to froth at the mouth at waking surrounded by treasure.

It seemed as though she hadn’t cared.

She must not care for gold.

“Witch, what is it you are doing? I do not like my treasures moved.”

She gave a yelp before falling back and sliding down the small pile of coins. He must have startled her.

“I am bored. I saw there was a book in here and thought there may be another.”

“How can you be bored? You have not wandered my home yet. Is that not entertainment enough?”

She fell back against the riches to lay against it like it was a bed. Her face was towards the ceiling, and she raised her arms above it to gesture to her surroundings.

“Your home is a cave.” He was about to snarl at her rudeness, but she quickly followed her words with, “Also, if I am to live here, I have plenty of time to explore our home.”

He blinked, taking in the fact she’d called ittheirhome.

“Well, you adjusted to that rather quickly. I expected to find you crying or trying to escape.”

She lifted her head up, and her eyes met his. “What is the point? I am guessing with that large nose of yours, you would find me if I ran.”

That is a very fair point.

“You do not plan to escape then?”

“I never said that.” He gave a scowl at her response. “I am hoping I can find your merciful side and get you to free me in due time.”

“Telling me of your plans makes them near impossible.”

She laughed, and he frowned at her for it.

Why is she not broken?

“Does it? Then perhaps I will annoy you so that you may rush me out of our home. Do you have a large broom for those large paws of yours? Perhaps I can get you to swat me away like I used to with those pixies near my cottage.”

“Once again, you have told me of your plan.”

“I doubt seducing you is a possibility then.”

Rurik reared his head back with his eyes wide.