And then he would be able to focus.
Connell rose, his feet taking him out of the hall and through the corridor. His fingers twitched as he stepped up the staircase, wondering what he would say to her. Should he apologize to her? Should he simply kiss her the moment he saw her? His brow furrowed. This wouldn’t work. She would yell at him for being cruel. Knowing her, she would demand he leave her rooms. He couldn’t have her if she didn’t want him.
He stopped in front of her door. His hand paused midair, wondering if this was truly the right thing to do. He clenched his jaw, his hand slowly moving toward the door. His knuckles rapped lightly against the wood three times. He waited, his gaze boring holes into the door, but he heard no movement on the other side.
Is she ignoring me?Connell wondered.But how does she know it is I?
Connell knocked again, louder this time, his frown deepening when he heard no movement. “Elsy,” he said while wiggling the handle, finding it unlocked. His eyes widened as he opened the door, finding no-one inside.
His heart plummeted to his stomach and nausea made his head sway.
Where is she?he wondered while turning on his heel and running down the corridor toward the staircase.
“Did she escape?” he spoke aloud, listening for any footsteps, any sounds of breathing.
Connell moved quickly, his heart pounding in his ears, his breathing coming in gasps.What if one of the men finds her?he thought with worry. What if they were doing something to her now, while he was searching for her? He imagined her in the courtyard with an injured foot, the men surrounding her with their swords drawn. But when he entered the courtyard, she was not there.
She could still be inside the castle, he thought while stalking back in the direction he had come. He opened doors, looking inside shadowed rooms, yet with each room he entered she was not there. Panic filled him, making him worry she was injured somewhere, locked inside Glenton or Logan’s rooms. He wanted to ask them, but worried what they would say, what they would accuse him of.
“Connell!” he heard Brann call from the other side of the corridor.
Connell stiffened, watching as Brann strode toward him.
“What is it?” Brann asked.
“Elsy,” Connell whispered. “She’s not in her rooms. She’s--”
“With Scott,” Brann finished.
Connell blinked. “With Scott?”
With Brann’s nod, Connell breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank ye, Brann.”
Brann didn’t say anything, and Connell was thankful for it as he turned on his heel and walked toward Scott’s rooms. Slowly, he opened the door, peeking inside and finding Scott and Elsy curled up on the bed, sleeping soundly. He closed the door softly, careful not to wake them as he stepped inside. His heart swelled as he looked at the pair. The tension in his shoulders eased and he felt something stirring within him, something he didn’t want to feel, knowing he shouldn’t.
Glenton was right. Elsy had him within the palm of her hand and Connell didn’t think he could ever release himself. He didn’t think he genuinely wanted to. And no amount of having her would aid in that. Connell grimaced, his breath leaving him swiftly as one thought entered his mind, one he had tried to push away.
I still love her.The thought both pained him and made him brim with joy. Time hadn’t killed his affections for her, it only made them grow. Connell sighed as he lowered himself onto the trunk, burying his head in his hands. What could he do now? He couldn’t harm the woman he loved. He couldn’t permit others to touch her. She needed to get away from this place.
Connell frowned as his gaze slipped to the cloth under him. He moved, grabbing at the tunic, but still there was more fabric. He grabbed long yellow strips, pulling them from under him. His frown deepened, realizing it was cloth used for binding wounds, yet there was no blood on it.
So, what is this for?Connell wondered gravely as he turned his attentions to Elsy and Scott, sleeping peacefully.
