“And yet I feel like shite about it.” Erik muttered.
“Aye, well.” Aksel’s voice dropped. “That’s how ye ken ye’re daein’ it right.” He paused at the door. “I reckon the lady might be more understandin’ than ye might think.”
“Will she?”
“Aye. Once ye’re honest with her, me jar.”
Then he was gone, leaving Erik standing alone in his study, staring at the map but not truly seeing it. His chest felt tight, and his head was starting to throb.
I did what I had tae.
But the look in her eyes when he’d dismissed her…
Thor’s bones, I’m gonnae pay fer this.
Erik took a few breaths to steady himself, then moved to the door. Claricia stood with her back to the door, staring at one of the narrow windows that overlooked the training yard. The two guards who’d been following her stood at a respectful distance, looking deeply uncomfortable.
“Leave us,” Erik told the guards, but Claricia didn’t turn around.
“Claricia—”
He moved to let her into the room and closed the door behind her.
“Ye didnae have taehumiliateme in front of yer Council.” Her voice was quiet. Too quiet. “Ye could’ve just told me tae wait.Asked me. But ye had tae go and make a show of it and put me in me place like some disobedient bairn who needs remindin’ of who’s in charge.”
“That’s nae?—”
“Nae what? Nae what ye meant?” She turned then, and the hurt in her eyes punched him square in the chest. “Whatdidye mean then, Erik? Because from where I’m standin’, it felt like ye were remindin’ me—and everyone else—that I’m just the Highland bride ye were forced tae marry, the political nicety ye have tae constantly manage?—”
“Ye’re nae?—”
“I’m nae what?” her voice cracked slightly. “Nae worth explainin’ things tae? Nae someone ye trust enough tae include in decisions that affect me? Nae?—”
“If ye gave me a bloody chance tae speak,” he closed the distance between them in three strides, and cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Claricia, lass, just stop and listen tae me. Please.”
She went still, but her breathing was unsteady.
“The bodies from yesterday’s attack? They’regone.” He watched her process that, saw the fear flicker across her face. “Which means whoever’s behind this, they’ve got accomplices on Skye.”
Her eyes widened.
“I didnae tell ye,” he continued, his thumbs brushing across her cheekbones, “because I just found out meself today and I didnae want ye worryin’. Because I thought… gods, I thought if ye didnae ken how bad it was, maybe ye’d sleep better at night. Maybe ye’d smile more instead of just jumpin’ at shadows.”
“Erik—”
“But ye noticed the guards,” his mouth twisted into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “And ye came demandin’ answers. But I couldnae indulge ye in front of me War Council without losin’ their respect. Ye cannae just storm in like that during Council.”
Erik shifted fractionally closer, pressing his forehead against hers.
“So I dismissed ye,” he finished quietly. “Like a cruel bastard. And I’m sorry fer that but ye didnae give me any other choice.”
Claricia’s hands came up to cover his. “Ye’re tellin’ me the truth now, are ye?”
“Aye, little bird. All of it.”
“So the reason fer the guards… ‘tis nae because ye dinnae trust me? ‘Tis because ye’re worried someone might try tae?—”
“Hurt ye. Or use ye tae get tae me.” The muscle in his jaw clenched. “Icannaelose ye, Claricia. I ken that sounds… I ken we’ve only been married a short while, and granted we’ve spent most of it at each other’s throats, but I…”
