“I don’t want to play, Celeste.”
She held her silence, wondering if he would pursue her. It had been a way of teasing one another years ago. When he’d found her, he'd stolen a kiss as his prize. And when she’d found him, she’d done the same.
The limb was cool and hard against her back. From her vantage point, she could see him by the fire while the ducks cooked. He picked up a branch and tossed it on the flames before he stood at last, staring out into the darkness.
“You’re behaving like a child,” he called out, walking toward her.
Maybe she was, but if she could pull him out of this dark mood, it was worth it. She didn’t want to dwell upon the past years of hurt and heartbreak. For tonight, she wanted to remember the way they’d laughed together.
“And your hiding places were never very good,” he remarked, crossing his arms as he stared up at her in the tree.
“I never tried to hide very well,” she admitted. “I wanted you to find me.”
He let out a sigh, and she picked a leaf, dropping it down to him. “Let the past go, Dougal. Let us just be friends, as we were.”
He climbed up to her and moved to sit upon the branch beside her. “Is that what you want?” He picked a leaf and drew it over her cheek. The cool green texture was soft, and the touch slid over her in a caress. He let the leaf fall, and her defenses drifted away with it.
No, she didn’t want to be merely friends. He had a way of seeing through her, to the heart of what she wanted. There was a desperate urge to feel his mouth upon hers, the wild hunger that only he could evoke.
“I didn’t mean to draw you into such danger,” she said, leaning a little closer. “I never thought they would try to kill me.”
His dark eyes regarded her with a steady intent. “I won’t allow anyone to harm you.”
The warmth of his voice entranced her, and she closed her eyes, wishing he could protect her from the world. Despite the cool air, she felt perfectly warm, so close to him. Safe, even.
“You found me, Dougal,” she breathed. “Will you not claim your prize?”
From the way he stared at her, a warmth rose within her skin. In his eyes, she saw the memory of the kiss they’d shared and the shielded desire. Would he take what she was offering?
Abruptly, his expression shifted. “No, Celeste. Not this time.” His words were meant to sever any feelings, cutting all invisible ties between them.
It might have worked, had she not seen the haunted look in his eyes.
Dougal climbed down from the tree, then lifted her to the ground. He returned to the fire and removed the roasted ducks, handing her one of them. She propped up the wooden stake, allowing the meat to cool first. Nothing had ever tasted so good as that first bite. She ate quickly, never minding how hot it was.
Dougal tore through his own meat, and after a moment, she dared to smile again. “Look at us. We’re like barbarians who haven’t eaten in weeks.”
He wiped his hands but didn’t return the smile. They ate without speaking, and after a while, he finally voiced the question. “You said you wouldn’t wed me because you were afraid. I want to know why.”
She avoided an answer at first, wondering if she dared to give him the reasons. He might not understand.
Staring down at the bones of the duck, she admitted, “I was often hungry when I was a girl. I learned to enjoy a good meal when it was offered to me.” She wiped her hands and forced herself to look at him. “Did you know why I came to Locharr?”
“I assumed you were being fostered there.”
She shook her head. “Melisandre and I asked the baron for sanctuary after our father and mother died.”
He asked no questions, but waited for her to continue. She gripped her hands around her knees, feeling the chill of the night.
“All my life, my father spent his coins on useless things. Sometimes a length of silk for a gown or a silver cup for my mother. He thought the gifts would please us, but then there was no money left for food.” She didn’t look up at Dougal, unsure of what he would think. “He went into debt, and we were the ones who paid the price. My mother would try to sell the goods, but there are not many folk who will buy silk during a harsh winter.”
“How did he die?”
She tightened her knuckles, trying to stop herself from shaking. “He bought several flasks of wine and drank them all. We tried to awaken him, but he was already dead.”
She sobered and faced Dougal, admitting, “Not long after that my mother lost her milk. My baby brother died of starvation, and she took her own life in grief.”
The trembling took her and the heaviness of loss shadowed her again. “I had to take care of my sister, and that’s when I brought her to Locharr. I told the baron everything, and he promised to seek a good marriage for me. I vowed I would never live like that again.”
