Chapter 133
The days passed quietly, though the weight of Gregor's proposal lingered in the back of my mind. I wasn't sure what I wanted anymore. I couldn't even remember who I truly was.
One afternoon, I was helping some of the clan women prepare a stew when Gregor's voice cut through the chatter.
"Arin," he said sharply, his eyes locked on mine. "Go inside. Now."
I blinked, confused. "What? Why?"
"Just do it," he ordered, his voice low and urgent.
The other women stopped what they were doing, watching with wide eyes as Gregor moved toward me. He grabbed my arm — not rough, but firm — and guided me to one of the nearby huts.
"Stay in here. Don't make a sound," he whispered, his voice tense. He pushed me gently toward a small, shadowed room. "Don't come out until I come for you. Understand?"
"Gregor, what's happening?" My heart started to race.
"Just stay hidden." He didn't wait for an answer before shutting the door.
I stayed still for a moment, but curiosity burned in my chest. I had to know what was going on. What was he hiding me from? Slowly, I crept to the edge of the doorway, peeking out just enough to see what was happening.
A group of unfamiliar men stood near the chief, their clothes finer than the rough furs most of the clan wore. They looked familiar, in a way. Something about their purple tunic and gold capes looked familiar, but I couldn’t tell where it was from. They looked strong, with powerful muscles and hardened eyes. Soldiers. They must be soldiers. Their eyes were hard and watchful.
"We're looking for a woman," one of them said, his voice carrying over the camp. "A woman. She has been missing for a few days now. Long blonde hair, amber eyes. She is pregnant. We know you are a remote tribe but she might have come to you for help. Have you seen anyone like that?"
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Gregor stepped forward. "We're a lone tribe. We don't take in outsiders." His voice was steady, calm.
"The woman is very important," the man pressed. "She is a noble woman, a very important member of the royal family. You would be rewarded handsomely if you ever find her. Your tribe is the only tribe in these mountains, it’s possible she might have come to you for help. Or you might have seen or heard something."
Gregor didn't flinch. "Like I said, we don’t take in outsiders. We don't know of the woman you speak of. We don't get visitors here. You're wasting your time."
The soldier's eyes narrowed. "If you're lying to us—"
"I'm not." Gregor's voice hardened. "Search the camp if you want. Search as thoroughly as you can. You won't find her."
The men stared him down for a moment longer before the leader gave a sharp nod. "Let's move out."
I exhaled a shaky breath as they walked away.
The chief turned to Gregor. "Why didn't you tell them about her?"
Gregor's jaw tightened. "Because she's not who they're looking for. Did you hear their description? They’re looking for a noble woman.” He hesitated, then added, "And if they found out she's an Otsayak, they'd kill her. I won't let that happen."
I barely had time to scramble back into the room before Gregor returned. He shut the door behind him and leaned against it, letting out a long breath.
"They're gone," he said quietly.
I swallowed hard. "Who were they? How were you so sure I wasn’t the one they’re looking for? I match their description. I have blonde hair and amber eyes and I am with child.”
"You can’t be the one they’re looking for. If you were you’d be dead. They’re lying," he said grimly. "They looked like the same men who captured you before. They're hunting you."
My stomach twisted. "How do you know that?”
Gregor hesitated. "Because I recognized one of them from the night I found you. He was with the group that brought you through these mountains."
I stared at him, feeling like the room was tilting. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want to scare you," he admitted. "I thought... maybe they'd stop looking. But they're not going to."
I sank down onto the edge of the small cot, my hands trembling. "What do I do now?"
Gregor stepped closer, his expression unreadable. "The only way to keep you safe — really safe — is to make you one of us. They won’t be able to hurt you if you are. That’s the only way now.”
I looked up at him, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Marry me," he said, his voice steady. "If you're my wife, the clan will defend you with their life. They'll protect you like one of their own. No one would dare take you from us."
I blinked at him, stunned. Marriage? It sounded rushed. It sounded too soon.
Was that really the only way? To marry a man I didn’t know?
“Gregor... I don't know if I can do that."
"You don't have time to think about it." His voice wasn't unkind, but it was firm. "If those men come back and find out what you are, they won't stop. If they find out you’re the one that they’re looking for, they will kill you, and they won't care that you're carrying a child."
Tears burned in my eyes. "You don’t understand. I don’t remember anything. I had a life before this, maybe a husband, and I barely know you. How can I marry you?"
Gregor sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know it's not what you want. But it's the only way I can protect you — protect the baby. You're not safe out there, Ariadne. Not as an Otsayak."
“Don’t you worry. I know your memories will come back and when they do, we shall deal with all of that and I’ll take you back to your home if I can. But for now, this is the only way to help you.”
He said.
I was quiet, taking in all that he was saying. I knew I didn’t have a lot of options, but getting married to Gregor seemed extreme.
He hesitated, then his voice softened. "I had a wife once. Her name was Helena. She died during a raid, years ago. I never thought I'd... care about someone again. But you remind me of her. You've got her fire. Her strength."
My throat tightened. "But I'm not her."
"I know," he said quietly. "But I still want to protect you. Both of you."
The room was thick with silence. My heart pounded in my ears.
I didn't trust him fully. But I trusted him more than I trusted anyone else in this strange, unfamiliar world.
"Okay," I whispered. "I'll marry you."
Relief flickered in his eyes, though his expression stayed serious. "I'll speak to the chief. We'll do it as soon as possible. Nobody will hurt you.”
Tomorrow. The word felt heavy, final.
For better or worse, I was about to become Gregor's wife.
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