She gasped. “Leaving? But you’ve only just returned.”
“I’ll be back by Yule.”
Disappointment wrenched inside her. “But that’s two weeks.” It would feel like forever. “Where—” She stopped herself, looking into his shuttered gaze.Don’t bother, she thought, knowing he wouldn’t tell her anyway. Instead she said, “But your brother, he’s just arrived. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were twins.”
“I didn’t think it would matter.” His mouth hardened. “Besides, Torquil is leaving tomorrow.”
Her eyes widened. “But why?”
He gave her a hard look, his eyes unreadable. “I sent him away.”
“Whatever for?”
It was clear he didn’t wish to explain. “For abducting his bride and almost causing a war.”
“But they are in love. Anyone can see that. If you’d only meet Meg—”
“I did. Their feelings make no difference.”
“No difference?” What was wrong with him? This was his brother. Histwinbrother. How could his happiness not matter? “How can you be so cold and unfeeling?”
He is cold.
Nay. She refused to believe she had imagined what she’d felt before. He might seem like a hard, ruthless warlord on the outside, but there was more to him than that. He was capable of love; she just had to show him how to open his heart.
Her accusation was not without effect. His jaw clenched and the tic pulsed ominously. “Because I have to be. Hundreds of people are counting on me to protect them—to make decisions for the good of the clan. What my brother did could have caused a war that would have killed tens—perhaps dozens—of my people. If that is ‘cold,’ so be it.”
Christina twisted her hands, feeling horrible. She’d never thought of it like that. This wasn’t how things were supposed to happen. Her surprise had turned into a disaster. “Please, I’m sorry. I was only trying to help. I promise I won’t interfere anymore. But don’t leave like this.” A tear escaped the corner of her eye. “Can’t you just stay the night?”
The intensity of his gaze took her aback. He was waging some kind of battle, though she didn’t know what. “I can’t,” he said fiercely.
No explanation. No tenderness. Nothing. She gave him a long, searching look, seeking any sign of weakness. It was futile. She dropped her gaze to the floor, misery washing over her. “I see. Until you return, then.”
God keep you safe.
He took a step toward the door, and then spun around with a crude oath she’d heard from him once before. Before she realized what was happening, he had her in his arms, pressed against the steely shield of his chest, his mouth covering hers in a hard, demanding kiss. A kiss that made her heart pound and stomach flip. A kiss that left her breathless.
A kiss that was over much too soon.
With a groan that was more of a growl, he wrenched away. Their eyes met, and for a moment she caught a glimpse of the tenderness she’d been desperate to see. Then, without another word, he was gone.
