“It seems ye’re at least capable of thinking of yer sister rather than just yerself.”
Thor knew they could keep dancing around the reason for their animosity no matter how long they remained outside. Neither was willing to discuss the events of that fateful day eight years ago. At this point, he only needed Greer to promise not to do anything rash.
"Greer, dinna threaten to go back to Gunn Castle to hurt me. And dinna do it for real. Please. That is one thing I’m willing to beg for. Our past or nae, ye canna return.”
“Why do ye care even a wee?”
“Besides the fact that ye’re a living and breathing person, and nay one should endure what ye must have, and besides ye being ma sister’s closest friend, I canna bear the thought that someone could hurt ye enough to ever repeat what ye said that day near the cliffs.”
“I shouldnae have said aught.”
“But ye did. And mayhap ye let me console ye because I was the closest one there, but I dinna think that’s it. I think that nay matter what we think of each other, ye ken ye are safe with me. That I will protect ye.”
“As an obligation to Rose and to yer family’s oath to protect those who canna protect themselves. Except I did fine protecting maself for three-and-twenty years.”
Thor took another step forward, forcing Greer to step back until she bumped into the wall behind her. He lowered his voice further and leaned to whisper in her ear.
“That is a load of shite. If ye had, ye never would have said what ye did. Ye trusted me, and mayhap it was in a moment of weakness ye now regret. But I canna stop thinking aboot what ye said. I will protect ye because ye are ye, and ye deserve it.” Her death wish would never leave him. He would never forget the distraught woman he’d embraced and the rage he’d felt as the need to avenge her pulsed through him hotter than any bloodlust he’d felt before.
Greer gazed up at Thor, and even in the dark, she knew how intense his expression was. She couldn’t see his face clearly, but she’d pictured it enough times over eight years to have it memorized. If only he were someone else, she could appreciate his handsomeness and his chivalry.
“Thank ye, Thor. I—” She shook her head, cutting herself off before she revealed anything else without forethought.
“What, Greer?”
“It’s naught. I willna go back. I dinna want to go back.” They stood staring at one another like they had on that battlefield all those years ago. Except this time, it was Greer who walked away.
CHAPTER2
Thor and Greer kept even more distance from one another for the next sennight. Rose remained mystified, but frustration was turning into anger because she felt torn between her best friend and her brother. The deeply ingrained sense of family caused her to favor Thor, and she resented it. She didn’t want to choose. She tried to mediate, but each time she brought up the topic, she felt the wedge growing between her and Greer, and between her and Thor.
“Thor, ye’re acting like ye dinna want to be here anymore. Ye said ye do, but ye’re keeping to yerself. Ye barely remain in the Great Hall after the evening meal. Ye dinna break yer fast with us. Ye’re avoiding all of us to avoid Greer. If this is how ye’re going to be, then ye may as well go back to Dunbeath.”
“Are ye telling me to leave?”
“Nay. I dinna want ye to go, but ye’re miserable. And people are starting to talk aboot Greer. They’re already suspicious because she’s a Gunn, but she’s been kind and helpful since she arrived. However, yer attitude is making people question whether they’re wrong to trust her. They’re going to distrust me, too. That canna happen. I have to live here, and I have to run this clan alongside Blaine.”
“Are ye blaming all of this on me? Are ye telling Greer the same thing?”
“Ye sound like a wean. Ye would say the same thing when Mama caught us being naughty and would separate us to find out the truth.”
Thor stared at his sister as they stood together near the chicken coop. He wiped sweat from his brow, having just come from the lists. He knew she spoke the truth, at least the part about her needing her new clan to trust her. He swept his gaze over the bailey and spied Greer working in the gardens. She kneeled as she weeded. She blended in since it was still warm enough for none of the women to need an arisaid. She didn’t wear her Gunn plaid, which had helped people accept her. But he knew Rose was right. His attitude toward her had only soured since their doomed conversation. He was the second in line to rule a powerful clan, and he was a renowned leader in battle already. People would believe his assessment of someone and would become suspicious of the person if they sensed he disapproved.
“I tried to do better the other night when ye asked me to at the evening meal. I tried to speak to Greer, and we didna make any progress. I’ve given her distance because of that.”
“Why did ye need to speak to her, and why do ye need to give her distance? I’m fed up of asking why, Thor.”
“Then dinna.”
Rose narrowed her eyes at her twin. “Until I met Blaine, I loved ye more than anyone. But ye are still the only person to infuriate me as much as ye do. If ye dinna give me some hint of what the bluidy hell is going on, then I willna trust ye. I canna, and that pains me.”
“Dinna issue me ultimatums.”
“I’m nae. I’m telling ye the truth. I dinna like how I’m starting to question ye, Thor. It doesnae feel right, but I canna help it.”
Thor inhaled a whistling breath as his hands fisted. This was the last thing he wanted right now. He wanted to go to the loch to bathe and escape. He’d seen Greer struggling with a basket that morning and had hurried to help. She’d snatched it back from him so hard that she nearly fell. She’d hissed at him when he tried to keep her upright. She would have rather fallen and dropped everything than accept his help or let him touch her again.
“I resent she gave useful information that’s prevented plenty of battles, but the one that she didna was the one that made me lose ma best friend. Mayhap it wasna her fault, but that doesnae change the fact that Jamie isnae alive.”
