"I'm sorry," she said finally. "I'm bein' ridiculous."
"Ye're bein' human. There's nae shame in fear, Enya. Only in lettin' it master ye. And ye didnae dae that."
"I barely moved."
"Ye stayed calm enough tae follow instructions. That takes courage." Harald tucked the cloak more securely around her. "Ye're braver than ye ken."
"Nay one's ever called me brave before." Enya's laugh was shaky. "Cursed, aye. But never brave."
"Then they're fools." The words came out more vehemently than Harald intended. "All of them. Every bastard who looked at yer eyes and saw anythin' but what they are."
"And what are they?" Enya's voice was barely audible over the wind.
Harald looked at her.
At the brown eye warm as earth, at the green one bright as new growth. At the way they caught the storm-light and reflected it back in shades no painter could capture.
"Beautiful," he heard himself say. "They're beautiful, Enya."
The moment stretched between them, charged with something that had nothing to do with the storm. Enya's lips parted, her gaze locked on his, and Harald felt the pull of her like gravity.
He could kiss her. Should kiss her, probably—she was to be his wife, and the attraction burning through him was undeniable.
But she'd also lied to him. Was still lying, most likely. And Harald couldn't afford to want someone he couldn't trust.
He pulled back abruptly, standing and putting distance between them.
"The storm's passin'," he said, his voice rougher than intended. "We should head back before it returns."
Confusion flickered across Enya's face, followed by something that looked like hurt. "Right. Of course."
She stood, wrapping his cloak tighter around herself, and didn’t meet his eyes.
Harald cursed himself silently.
He'd done it again, let her in just far enough to feel the warmth, then retreated before she could see how much he wanted her to stay.
But what choice did he have? She still hadn't told him the truth about the forest. Still kept whatever secrets her brother had planted in her heart.
And until she did, Harald couldn't afford to let himself fall.
Even if every instinct he had was screaming that he already was.
CHAPTER NINE
"This is a terrible idea."
Amelia's whisper was barely audible in the quiet corridor, but Enya heard the fear in it clearly enough. She paused with her hand on the door handle to Harald's study, guilt warring with determination.
"I ken that," she whispered back. "But Finley expects information, and I cannae just sit around and nae dae anything."
"Ye could tell him the truth. That there's naethin' tae find because Harald isnae plottin' anythin'."
"He willnae believe that without proof." Enya tested the handle. Locked, as she'd expected. "And the only way to get proof is tae look."
"At what? His private correspondence? His battle plans?" Amelia's voice rose slightly. "Enya, if he catches ye?—"
"He willnae catch me. He's in Council with Leo and the captains. They'll be occupied fer at least another hour." Enya pulled twopins from her hair and knelt by the lock. "Just keep watch, aye? If anyone comes, cough twice."
