She hurried toward him, trying to think of what she was going to say. Especially when he looked so…
She bit her lip.Forbidding.
Her pulse spiked and a shiver spread over her skin. The big, fearsome warrior wasn’t the strapping youth of her memories. The contrast was unsettling, and she had to remind herself this was the same young warrior she’d given her heart to—just with a lot more muscle and a few more scars.
She came to a sudden stop before him, winded from racing to catch up with him. Flustered, she fumbled with her skirts. “Is everything all right…um, with the king’s rooms?”
“Everything is fine,” he said brusquely. “Return to your guests, Helen.”
She stared up at him, not knowing what to do—how to reach him. How to penetrate this icy wall he’d built between them. “But don’t you want to dance?”
She’d always dreamed of dancing with him, but the feud had always prevented it.
A strange look crossed his face. “Nay, but I’m sure you won’t have difficulty in finding someone who does.”
She frowned, puzzled by his tone.
She placed her hand on his arm, feeling a pinch in her chest when he flinched. “Don’t you remember? You said one day you’d be proud to lead me out in a reel, and no one would be able to stop you.”
“I was a boy,” he said, shrugging her off. “I said a lot of things I didn’t mean.” He gave her a pointed look. “We both did.”
“Why are you acting like this? Why are you acting as if there was never anything between us?”
“Why are you acting as if there still is?”
She sucked in her breath, feeling as if he’d hit her square in the chest.
Something in her stricken expression must have moved him. The tension seemed to ease out of his rigid muscles. He raked his fingers through his hair the way he’d used to do when he was frustrated. “I don’t want to hurt you, Helen.”
She gazed up at him, her eyes filling with tears. “Then why are you?”
“Because what you want…the way you are looking at me…it’s not possible.”
“Why—?”
“Helen!”
She cursed under her breath, hearing her brother Will’s voice behind her.
But she didn’t turn; she kept her gaze on Magnus, watching as his mouth fell in a hard line. “Do you need to ask?”
Her family? Was that what he meant?
“Helen!”
Hearing the sharpness in his voice, she whirled around in frustration, seeing Will’s furious face glaring at her. “Where is she? Did you see her?”
She blinked. “Who?”
“Never mind,” he said, stomping off in the direction of the courtyard.
Whoever she was, Helen felt sorry for her. Her imposing brother looked ready to kill someone.
For once it wasn’t Magnus. But when she looked back around, she realized why. Magnus was no longer standing there.
Seven
Muriel raced out of the Hall the moment the dance was over.
