Momentarily stunned by the subtle comment on her part, she was surprised by the half-handed way in which the leader excused her presence. It was a striking contrast to the display he offered his men when they had been surrounded by her fallen family and burning home. He merely took her from off the horse, still shivering and cold through, and propped her on his hip as if she was a child who had demanded to be picked up. The position only magnified her knowledge her his size. He had every advantage over her when she was stuck in her womanly flesh. Height, weight, sheer muscle that moved as if she was nothing at all.<br/><br/>She hid her face from the prying gazes, hidden behind half-dried tresses with her skin taking on a pink hue under such humiliation and embarrassment.<br/><br/>It was sudden warmth and realization that he had taken her inside one of the tents that had her lifting her gaze. He unceremoniously dropped her to her feet just inside the tent flap before stalking across the space as if he knew it well. She ran a hand up the opposite arm, standing in the space where the cold night air fought to invade the intense heat inside.<br/><br/>Her bright gaze followed him, taking in his warrior’s form as he discarded his tunic and the leathers that had protected him. If she had held no knowledge of his malicious intents and cruelty, she may have thought of him as handsome. But, the blood that had dried across his skin was her reminder of what he’d done to her people, and to her. It reminded her that she was his and terror swelled while she wondered exactly what that meant to him. If he had enjoyed humiliating and torturing her in front of his men, what would he do in private when no one was there to judge him?<br/><br/>It was then that the scent of food filled her senses. Her stomach ached and while she had been so close to sickness for so long, she couldn’t deny she was still starving. He tapped the side of the bowl he held, an obvious sign that she was to come nearer. She hesitated where she stood, before giving in to her hunger and closing the distance between them. Standing a few feet away, she was unsure what to do. He hadn’t offered her her own bowl, or verbally give a command. So instead, tired, hungry and cold, she stood in front of him and waited.