“I…” Brynja struggled with the words. “I can’t promise I won’t go after him if I get the chance.”
“I’m not asking you to promise that. I’m asking you to promise you’ll think about what you’re choosing. That you’ll ask yourself if revenge is really what you need, or if what you actually need is to be free of him. To stop letting him control your life.”
Brynja met her cousin’s eyes—so much like her mother’s, so full of love and concern. “I promise I’ll think about it.”
“That’s all I ask.” Hildi pulled her into another embrace. “Because I love you, Brynja. And I want you to have the chance I almost didn’t get—the chance to choose life. To choose joy. To choose love, even when it’s terrifying.”
“I love you too,” Brynja whispered. “And I’m so glad you’re healing.”
“Me too.” Hildi pulled back, smiling through her own tears. “Though I’ll admit, watching you train with daggers and bows makes my head hurt. You’re terrifyingly good at violence.”
Despite everything, Brynja laughed. “Years of pent-up rage have to go somewhere.”
“Well, mayhap you could channel some of that energy into being happy instead.” Hildi’s expression turned mischievous. “Hagen Grant is verra handsome. And the way he looks at you makes me giggle.”
“Hildi!”
“What? I’m injured, not blind.” She grinned. “Besides, someone needs to point out the obvious since you’re so determined to ignore it.”
“I’m not ignoring Hagen.” Brynja started to say something else, then stopped. Because she was ignoring it. Ignoring the way her heart raced when Hagen smiled. Ignoring how safe she felt when he was near. Ignoring the fact that for the first time in months, she could imagine a future that wasn’t just about revenge.
“See?” Hildi’s smile was knowing. “You’re thinking about it now. Good. Keep thinking about it. And when you’re ready—when you’re brave enough—let yourself have it.”
“What if I’m never ready? What if I’m never brave enough?”
“Then pretend.” Hildi’s expression was fierce. “Pretend to be brave until the pretending becomes real. That’s what I did. Every day I woke up and chose to get out of bed even when my head was splitting. Chose to walk even when I was dizzy. Chose to live even when dying felt easier. And eventually, the choosing became easier. The pretending became truth.”
She squeezed Brynja’s hands one more time. “You’re stronger than you think. Braver than you know. And you deserve happiness, even if you don’t believe it yet.”
“Thank you,” Brynja said softly. “For this. For understanding.”
“Always.” Hildi smiled. “That’s what family does.” She glanced around at the few people chatting in the hall. “This is a large one, but a clan who loves hard and is loyal to their core. We’ve found a good place, Brynja.”
“This place is special, for certes.”
“And now I have a question for you.”
“Anything.”
Hildi dropped her voice to a whisper. “Does Jowell have a girlfriend?”
Brynja nearly squealed with glee, but managed to hold it in, her hand over her mouth. “Nay, but I adore him. You would be perfect together. He’s the serious one and perfect for you, Hildi. Paden is too silly. I love him too, but he has a different personality. Jowell is a rock.”
“I’m not ready yet. I’m still healing. But mayhap someday.”
They returned to their chairs by the hearth, listening to the storm rage outside. But inside the hall, there was warmth. Therewas hope. And for the first time in a long while, Brynja allowed herself to imagine what might come after revenge.
A life. Not just survival, but an actual life. With Hagen and laughter and ordinary moments. With morning rides and quiet conversations and the gradual healing of old wounds.
It was terrifying. But perhaps it was worth being terrified for.
Outside, the storm continued. And somewhere across those dark waters, Sholto was still alive, still planning, still waiting.
But for now, in this moment, Brynja chose to focus on the warmth and the hope. On Hildi’s recovery and Hagen’s smile and the possibility of something more.
The storm would come soon enough. But she didn’t have to face it alone.
Chapter Thirty-Six
