But Halvard blocked easily. “I’m thinkin’.”
“There it is. The most dangerous thing a Highlander can dae.”
Halvard shoved him back with a powerful twist of his wrist, his breath coming out in a huff. “Shut up.”
Sten’s grin widened. Halvard’s reaction only encouraged him, just as Halvard should have expected.
“Is this about a certain English lass who’s been makin’ yer jaw tighten an’ yer brain melt? Because if so?—”
Halvard feinted left then swept right, catching Sten off guard. His blade tapped Sten’s ribs, and that, at least, seemed to be enough to force him to stop talking.
Sten stepped back, rubbing the spot. “Aye, I deserve that.”
Halvard didn’t answer. His grip tightened on his sword, his breath coming heavier. And Sten, perceptive as always, sobered.
“Well?” Sten asked quietly. “Ye ready tae admit it?”
Halvard exhaled hard, his frosty breath curling into the air.
“She’s in me thoughts,” he muttered.
“That’s one way tae say ye’re mad fer the lass.”
Halvard ignored him, but Sten was right enough. No matter how much he may try to deny it, no matter what he said to everyone else, the truth was that Elsie had managed to worm her way into his heart and there was no hope of ever getting her out.
He wouldn’t want to do such a thing anyway. Despite the hardships, despite every obstacle that still stood between them, he wanted her. He wanted to be by her side, to spend his days with her, to cherish her like she deserved.
“When she’s hurt, me heart damn near stops. When she smiles…” He dragged the back of his hand across his forehead,annoyed at himself. “I feel like a fool. A laddie. I cannae remember the last time I cared about someone like this.”
Sten lowered his sword and his grin softened into something gentler, more knowing.
“An’ what scares ye more, that ye care… or that she might nae?”
Halvard’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.
Sten sighed dramatically. “Halvard, ye great stubborn ox, the lass looks at ye like ye hung the stars in the bloody sky.”
Halvard almost stumbled as he tried to attack again, only for Sten to easily parry the blow.
“She daesnae.”
“She daes,” Sten insisted. “Ye dinnae see it because ye’re too busy glarin’ at anyone who looks at her wrong. But Elsie… aye, when ye walk intae a room? She lights up like a hearth fire.”
Halvard swallowed hard. The truth pierced deeper than any blade.
Sten continued, circling him. “She listens when ye speak, leans toward ye without realizin’ it. Ye’re a fool if ye dinnae see it.”
Halvard’s ears heated, a blush creeping over his face at the thought that Sten had noticed. He hoped at least his friend didn’t notice the blush.
“Ye care fer her,” Sten said finally. “More than ye want tae admit. An’ she cares fer ye.”
Halvard lifted his sword again if only to distract himself. “Even if ye’re right, even if she daes feel somethin’…” He hesitated, steel lowering again. “I’ve nay right tae her.”
Sten barked a laugh. “What nonsense is that?”
“She deserves safety,” Halvard said. “Stability. A quiet life. Nae this danger I’m puttin’ her through.”
Sten rolled his eyes so hard Halvard nearly heard it. “An’ yet she’s still here, still wantin’ tae help yer people. Still followin’ ye around like a wee lost lamb who thinks the wolf is handsome.”
