He seemed taken aback, but she didn’t apologize for the truth.
“You think I’m behaving like a child.” Without warning, his mouth curved upward. It was the first time she’d seen him smile, and it transformed him from an angry warrior into a man.
A handsome man, if she were honest. She’d never really thought about it, but Trahern MacEgan was a man who had captured the attentions of many women in her clan, not just Ciara. Months ago, he’d worn his hair and beard long, but now, his shaved head and face were a stark contrast to his gray eyes. The smooth skin sharpened his features, like a honed blade.
And right now, he was staring straight at her with amusement. She didn’t know whether he was silently laughing at her or whether he’d recognized his own faults.
“I promise not to sulk or complain,” he said, gesturing for her to walk in front of him. “But I still won’t trust theLochlannach.”
She didn’t doubt that. “You have the same purpose, the desire to find those who were responsible for the attack. Despite your suspicions, I know there are men here who want to find the raiders, the same as you.”
“They’ll have to prove themselves first.” When they returned to the longhouse, he pushed open the door, waiting for her to enter. Morren glanced back at him. Although Trahern was no longer smiling, at least he seemed more relaxed and less likely to kill the next man he saw.
“Where will you sleep tonight?” she asked, before they rejoined the others. She saw her sister seated near theLochlannachchief, but Jilleen appeared uncomfortable. As Morren walked toward them, Gunnar rose to his feet. The Norseman offered an open smile of interest.
Trahern’s hand came down on her shoulder in an unmistakable message. She forced herself not to pull away, though she wanted to. “I won’t be leaving your side, Morren. Tonight, I’ll sleep wherever you are.”
Chapter Six
JilleenÓReillywasa coward. A weak-minded, self-centered coward, and she hated herself for it.
Though she’d been with the Dalrata people for several days now, she’d allowed them to treat her like a small child. Katla had given her clothes and although she’d brought her among the other girls her age, Jilleen knew she didn’t fit in with them. An outsider, she was. Different.
Already they’d branded her as a stranger, and though they’d said nothing impolite, she sensed their distance. And why would they want to befriend an Irish girl? She wasn’t one of them and never would be. Although there were some ties among the married women, it didn’t matter so much now. After the raid, few of her people were still alive. Hardly more than a dozen, it seemed.
The horror of that night washed over her, and her stomach wrenched into twisted knots. She wished she could just close her eyes and shut out every memory. Though she’d fled when Morren had ordered it, she’d hidden herself among the trees. She’d seen what the men had done to her sister, and hatred burned through her veins.
Not just from what they’d done but also hatred at herself. She’d hidden, instead of going for help. She’d done nothing to stop the men, and that made her the worst coward of all.
Tonight, seeing Morren among the others, she knew her sister had changed. She was still shy, of course, but Morren no longer smiled. Jilleen blamed herself for it. If she hadn’t allowed herself to be caught, none of this would have happened.
She would make up for it somehow. The fervent need to atone for her sister’s suffering overshadowed everything else.
Jilleen’s gaze settled upon Trahern MacEgan. The giant had frightened her at first, the night she’d found him. But she’d remembered his storytelling, and the kind way about him. From the moment she’d seen him, she knew he would help Morren when her sister had suffered from the fever.
And so he had. He’d protected her, and she saw the way he watched over Morren, even now.
Though Jillen had never been much of a matchmaker, if she helped put the two of them together, there was a strong chance that Trahern would take care of Morren.
Maybe that would make up for her cowardice.
Maybe.
“We’regoingtomeettonight to discuss the attack,” Gunnar said, when the crowd began to dissipate. “Áron thought you would want to attend.”
At the mention of Ciara’s brother, Trahern tensed. He hadn’t seen Áron, hadn’t known that he’d returned. It struck him as strange that the man hadn’t greeted them.
He glanced back at Morren, who answered his unspoken question. “Go with Gunnar. I’ll be fine with Jilleen.”
“I don’t want you unguarded.”
“She can stay with Katla,” Gunnar offered. “My brother’s wife will keep her safe.”
Trahern had no doubt of that. He supposed the Norse woman would wield a spear against any man who threatened someone under her protection.
“It’s all right, Trahern,” Morren said. “You may as well go with them and find the answers you’re seeking.”
He would have preferred it if Morren came with him, but she was looking pale. It was best if she got some rest. He also wanted the healer to look over her in the morning, to be sure she hadn’t suffered unduly from the miscarriage.
