Two days. That's all they had.
Two days until Ada walked into danger, and Magnus had to trust that he'd be fast enough, strong enough, to save her if things fell apart.
Two days until everything they'd built together was put to the ultimate test.
He just hoped they'd both survive it.
CHAPTER 33
Ada stood at the window of their chamber, watching the sun sink toward the horizon. Two days had passed in a blur of preparation and planning. Two days of Magnus drilling her on what to do, what to say, how to signal if something went wrong.
Two days of pretending she wasn't terrified.
"It's almost time."
Magnus's voice came from behind her. Ada turned to find him standing in the doorway, already dressed for battle—leather armor, sword at his hip, his face set in grim determination.
"I ken." Ada smoothed her skirts with trembling hands. "Are the others ready?"
"Aye. Harald and his men are positioned on the northern approach. Ragnar and Ivar are comin' from the south. Erik andI will follow ye directly, but far enough back that they willnae see us." Magnus moved closer. "And Torvald will be closest, just beyond the treeline. If ye need help, if anythin' goes wrong, he'll be there first."
Ada nodded, trying to commit it all to memory. "And after I create the diversion?"
"Get away. Find cover. And stay down until we've secured the camp." Magnus's hands came up to frame her face. "Promise me, Ada. Promise me ye'll stay safe."
"I promise." Ada leaned into his touch. "And ye promise me the same. Come back tae me, Magnus Haraldson."
"Always." He bent his head, kissed her with a tenderness that made her throat tight. "I love ye."
"I love ye too."
They stood like that fer a moment longer, holding each other, neither wanting to let go. Then Magnus pulled back, his expression hardening into the mask of the warrior everyone feared.
"It's time."
Ada followed him down through the keep, her heart hammering with each step. In the courtyard, she saw the other jarls mountedand ready, their men assembled in quiet formation. No one spoke. No one needed to.
Magnus helped her onto her mare, his hand lingering on hers for just a moment. "Be careful."
"Ye too."
Then she was riding out through the gates, alone, as the sky turned purple with approaching dusk.
The ride to the meeting point felt both endless and far too short. Ada's mind raced through everything that could go wrong—Donnan suspecting the trap, her father seeing through her act, the signal failing to reach Magnus in time.
But she forced herself to breathe. To stay calm. To remember that she wasn't truly alone. Magnus was out there somewhere, watching. Waiting.
She reached the meeting point—a small clearing beyond the eastern wall where a stream cut through the forest. Dismounted. Waited.
Minutes passed. The sun sank lower. Ada's hands clenched and unclenched at her sides.
Then she heard it, the sound of boots on fallen leaves. She turned.
Donnan emerged from the trees, a smile on his face that made her skin crawl. "Ye came. I wasnae sure ye would."
"I said I would." Ada kept her voice steady. "Is me faither here?"
"Aye. Waitin' at the camp." Donnan moved closer, too close. "But first, I wanted a moment alone with ye."
