Thor's gaze shot back to me.
“Don't read anything more into those words than what they are.” I held up my hands. “I don't want to be with you, but I will always love you, Thor. And I guess that's why I wasn't able to heal you completely. I didn't really want to. And that's why Brevyn made you fall in love. He thought it would help you get over me.”
Thor leaned back and stared at me long enough to make me uncomfortable. Well,moreuncomfortable. Then he said, “Thank you for saying that.”
“You're welcome?” I squished my face at him.
He laughed his booming laugh, then hugged me. “It's nice to know that you didn't move on and leave me alone in my pain.”
Brevyn's words came back to taunt me. Damn, that kid was impressive. And he was right; he probably wouldn't need any advice from me. It might be the opposite.
Thor was still smiling when he sat back. “If Brevyn saw that I wasn't over you, why didn't he just finish the healing you started?”
“I don't think he can. I think I have to do it since I was the one who started it. Either that or he thought a new love would be better for you.”
“I've been with a lot of women since we broke up, Vervain.”
“Yes, but Brevyn doesn't know that. And, not to pour salt in the wound, but how many of those women have you loved?”
He grunted.
“I think it's time we both got past this, don't you?” I held out my hand.
Thor scowled as he looked at my palm. “I don't think it was you.”
“What?”
“I don't think it was your fault that my heart wasn't completely healed. Or at least, not entirely.”
“What do you mean?” I dropped my hand.
“I don't think I wanted to be healed.”
“And now?”
“I'm not sure.”
“Thor—”
“Vervain, this is all I have left of you.”
“No, it's not.” I took his hand. “I'm still here. I'm still a part of your life. And healing your pain doesn't take any of the love away, it just makes it easier to bear.”
“Are you sure?”
I smiled at his worried expression. “I'm healed but I still feel it.”
He stared at me for a few seconds, then nodded. “All right. Do it.”
And finally, after all those years, Thor and I were put to rest.
Chapter Twenty
Thor left with Brevyn, looking much better than when he'd arrived. I saw them off, then headed to the dining hall, grimacing as I went.
I loved Thor, I did, but, honestly, I was annoyed. It had been a rough road to get to a place where we were okay with each other. A rough,longroad. I was tired of dealing with him. It would have been so much easier if I could have ended things and walked away from him entirely. Oh.
“Damn, he's right about Rae. He shouldn't start anything with her,” I muttered.
