This was getting tiresome, and I was ready to end it. I growled at the man, and his face paled under his mask.
“It was them!” He pointed to his two unconscious companions. “Their idea to attack her and try to steal the bookwyrm. Not mine. I swear it.”
“Yet you are the one who tried to kill me.” I stalked forward as he stumbled back.
“Because I was defending myself.” He tripped over a rock and fell backward, then raised his hands to shield his face. “Mercy. Mercy in the name of the godwitches.”
“You dare name the godwitches in your defense? The godwitches would be ashamed of the brotherhood and everything they stand for.”
I raised my sword, ready to give this man the end he deserved as I drove the tip straight into his heart.
CHAPTER 35
Wolfe
We walked away from the stone arches as black clouds gathered in the sky overhead, rolling green hills spreading out as far as the eye could see. At some point during the attack, Niamh’s horse had fled. I hoped it had run back to Fairwitch Isle, but that meant we’d be on foot for our journey home. Not ideal with the darkening sky.
Grunts and muffled cries rang out behind us, and I glanced backward to see the two remaining brotherhood attackers writhing, tied to the stones with their mouths gagged. I glanced over at Niamh, my lips twitching as I looked at her, knowing that the compassion she showed them was another reason I loved her.
I did love her. I loved her so fucking much. I just didn’t know how to tell her again without messing it all up, and right now didn’t seem like the best time. Her jaw was locked, fists clenched, and she marched in front of me, not bothering to look back.
“Niamh, are you all right?” I reached for her, and she jerked away, not answering. Something was definitely wrong.
“Morton is headed back to Fairwitch Isle right now. He’s safe.”
That stopped her, and she turned her head, almost looking back at me, but then continued onward. Thunder growled, the land shaking around us, and fat droplets began to fall from the sky.
“Niamh,” I said again, but she kept walking.
What in the fuck was going on?
“Niamh!” I ran to catch up with her. “Will you talk to me? Are you hurt?”
I looked down at my own wounds. They were still bleeding, but luckily they were superficial. I’d need a few stitches, but I’d be okay.
“Yes,” she said. “I am hurt.”
My blood turned to ice, and I grabbed her arms, facing her toward me. “Where? Who did this to you?” I opened the flaps of her cloak, searching for any signs of wounds. “Why didn’t you tell me immediately?”
She shoved me and closed her cloak. “I’m not hurt physically, Wolfe.”
She turned again and started walking.
I shoved a hand through my hair. Lightning split the sky above, and the wind picked up, bitingly cold, as I once again caught up with her. “What is going on? You never shy away from speaking your feelings, so why won’t you talk to me?”
“Because you left me!” she burst out.
Her words hit me, and I took a step back, remembering all the things Morton had told me. “Left you?”
She threw up her hands. “You left me. You kissed me like no man has ever kissed me before, you made me feel things—” Her voice broke. “You ran away like a coward, and I’m realizing that I’m very angry about it.”
I swore under my breath.
“I came after you because for some stupid reason, I can’t let you go. I’ve only known you for a little over a month, yet it feels like your soul is entwined so deeply with mine that I hear your voice everywhere, in every situation.”
My lips twitched again, and her eyes bugged as another crack of lightning flashed above.
“This is when you choose to smile?” She let out a frustrated cry. “When I’m admitting to you that I’m in love with you? That I’m so hopelessly in love with a man who clearly doesn’t feel the same way and I’m just now realizing that after chasing after him through the hillsides of Aubergn?”
