Marcus approached her.
She fumed silently, her teeth clenched, and her fist balled, but her feelings were shattered. Her lower lip trembled with hurt embarrassment.
“I only asked because...I can teach you.”
Her anger evaporated, and she lowered the book. “You know how to read.” It was a statement. She knew he did. He had been offering suggestions to decode the book and correcting her spelling.
He nodded. “Yes.”
She looked him up and down, from his tight-fitting black breeches to over his strong chest to his full lips that were not smiling in mockery of her. She swallowed. “Why would you teach me?” she demanded suspiciously.
He shrugged those strong shoulders. “For one, it would help you decode that book faster.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. That would make sense. He wanted the book decoded. Teaching her to read would benefit them both.
Still, misplaced righteous anger simmered in her veins. She thoughtfully chewed her lower lip. He had said he would teach her to read! Hunger at the prospect filled her. The one thing she had wanted for her entire life. Raven was always better than her at sword fighting. Willow was the pretty one. Sage could work puzzles, but it wasn’t enough. “I suppose you’re right.”
“If I teach you, there is one thing I want from you.”
She knew it—there was always a catch. She put her hand on her hip, waiting.
“I want your word you will not attempt to escape.”
She blinked. That was it? Just her word? She could give him that. Joy erupted inside her, but then quickly faded. What about her family? She needed to find them and let them know she was safe. They would be searching for her. They would be worried. But everything inside her wanted to learn to read. She could always locate her family after she had learned and apologize for making them worry. Once she explained that she could read, they would have to understand. They would forgive her for making them fret over her safety.
He took a step toward her. “I can’t watch you every moment of the day. I want to be able to trust you.”
Ironic of him to ask for trust. “How can I trust you? You killed Brother Nicolas, an unarmed innocent man. How do I know once I decode this book that you won’t kill me, too?”
His gaze swept over her.
And for a moment, she thought she saw remorse and sadness. His shoulders sagged, and he bowed his head. But then, it was gone.
“I won’t kill you,” he promised in a flat voice.
She stared at him, trying to decipher the truth. She really had no choice. Her desire to read was a craving inside her. She wanted to learn to read more than anything else. To do that, she had to give him her word. She nodded. “I won’t try to escape until we’ve deciphered the book.”
Marcus agreed. “That’s good enough.” He turned his back and walked away.
Hope surged through her. He was going to teach her to read. Sage’s gaze dropped to his rounded bottom as he strolled away. She had to admire his physique, even if she didn’t admire his murderous personality.
He was no threat. She could take care of herself. And he would teach her to read!
