Aye. She knew. Magnus had seen it in her eyes when she'd clung to him, felt it in the way she'd trembled in his arms.
But Ada was also brave. Foolishly, dangerously brave. The kind of brave that made her go to the kitchens alone in the middle of the night because she thought someone might need healing.
The kind of brave that would make her resist being locked away like a prisoner for her own protection.
"I'll speak with her," Magnus said finally. "But first we need that prisoner awake and talkin'. And I want Donall and the other two guards that came with Ada gone, there’s nay need fer them tae stay any longer.”
The men rose, moved toward the door to carry out their orders. Torvald lingered behind, his expression troubled.
"What?" Magnus asked.
"How is she? Really?"
Magnus exhaled slowly. "Bruised. Shaken. Angry, I think, though she's hidin' it well." He stopped, struggled for words. "She was incredible last night, Torvald. The way she fought them. She told me she caused that fire tae buy herself time. She's stronger than I gave her credit fer."
"Aye. I could have told ye that weeks ago." Torvald's smile was brief. "She's good fer ye, Magnus. I hope ye ken that."
"I dae."
"Dae ye?" His friend's gaze was searching. "Because from where I'm standin', it looks like ye're still holdin' her at arm's length. Still waitin' fer her tae prove she's nae Freydis."
Magnus's jaw tightened. "That's nae what I'm daeing."
"It is exactly that. And ye need to figure out soon whether ye're goin' tae trust her or nae. Because that lass deserves better than half yer heart while ye keep the other half locked away behind walls."
The words hit harder than they should have because they were true.
Last night, in the aftermath of terror and relief, Magnus had let his walls down. Had kissed Ada like he was starving for her. Had let himself show her exactly how much he wanted her, how much he cared.
But when it came to that final intimacy, that complete surrender, he'd pulled back. Had made excuses about her being hurt, about wanting to go slow, when the truth was he was terrified. Of giving her that last piece of himself. Of trusting her with the depths of what he felt.
Of risking the kind of devastation Freydis had left him with.
"I'm tryin'," Magnus said quietly. "It's nae easy fer me, Torvald. Trustin' someone after what happened."
"I ken. But Ada's nae Freydis. And the longer ye treat her like she might be, the more ye're goin' tae hurt her." Torvald gripped his shoulder briefly. "Just dinnae wait too long. A woman like that, she willnae wait forever for ye to figure out what she's worth."
He left, closing the door quietly behind him.
Magnus stood alone in the war room, his friend's words echoing in his mind.
Torvald was right. About all of it.
Ada deserved better than what he was giving her. Deserved a man who could love her without fear, without constantly waiting for betrayal.
But Magnus didn't know how to be that man. Didn't know how to let go of the past long enough to fully embrace what they could have together.
All he knew was that the thought of losing her, really losing her, was worse than any fear of betrayal could ever be.
Ada kept her eyes closed, her breathing slow and steady, as Magnus moved about the chamber.
She'd woken when he'd first stirred, had felt the moment his body tensed beside hers. Had known from the quality of his stillness that he wasn't going back to sleep.
Part of her had wanted to reach for him. To pull him back down and make him rest, make him stop carrying the weight of everything on his own shoulders.
But another part, the part that was still hurt from last night, still confused by his rejection, kept her still and silent.
So she'd listened to him dress. Heard the whisper of fabric, the clink of his belt buckle, the soft thud of boots being pulled on. Each sound precise and controlled, just like Magnus himself.
