Should she leave, she knew she’d never again feel safe or happy.
For now, her only real memories consisted of him and the one she had of her brother, Shadow.
He leaned his head back into his pillows and tensed as if another wave of pain cut through him. Guilty that she clung to him when he needed his rest, Ariel rose and retrieved his platter from the floor. Placing it on the table, she felt his gaze upon her like a tender touch that caressed her heart.
She turned around to see his gentle eyes and the adoration that shone brightly in his unique gaze. At this moment, she wondered how she could ever fear he might not want her, and yet his words about leaving echoed in her mind like a quiet thief sent to steal her safety, her happiness. She offered him a smile, but couldn’t quite shake her fears.
“Where are your brothers?”
Ariel cringed over a query she’d been dreading. “Well… that’s an interesting question.”
“How so?”
“Last I saw, they were fighting to see which of them would have the honor of beating Belial.”
He cocked a smile at her. “I knew I liked them for a reason.”
She tsked at him.
Valteri pulled her back into his arms. She smiled as a wave of happiness rushed through her.
He might not say he wanted her, but his actions spoke loudly enough. She laid her head on his chest, careful not to tug any of the stitches, and closed her eyes. His heart thumped beneath her cheek, delighting her with its healthy song.
As she lay there in soothing silence, it surprised her that he didn’t try to leave and take his bed elsewhere, as he had done since their marriage. Though his wounds must surely plague him, they were not so severe thathe couldn’t leave should he choose to do so. Indeed, his current wounds were slight compared to the deep, horrifying scars that lined his back and wrists. Scars that had stolen her breath when she’d first seen them.
“Milord?” she whispered.
“Aye?”
“Where all did you go last evening?”
He stroked her hair, his hand pausing for a moment on her cheek as he played with stray strands that tingled against her face. “I needed time to think, time to plan.”
She sensed his sadness almost as much as if it beat inside her own heart. “You’re still planning to leave?”
When he didn’t speak, she looked up at him. By the sadness hovering in his eyes, she knew exactly what he’d been planning.
And that thought tore through her with waves of resounding pain that crashed against her heart until she feared they would tear the organ asunder.
Emptiness filled her and she tried to imagine living without him, but all she could see were years of circular misery stretching out before her. Years of longing for someone who refused to stay. “When are you leaving?”
He winced. “Damn me for it. I can’t.”
Shock riveted her. “What?”
He let out a disgusted breath. “I won’t leave you unprotected.”
Tears filled her eyes. But before she could say or do anything, a knock sounded on the door.
Wace pushed the door open. His gaze lightened as he noted his lord’s improved condition. “I brought fresh wine and food.” He placed the tray next to the platter on the table before the fire then approached the bed with a reluctance that brought an ache to Ariel’s chest.
She gave a quick squeeze on his right shoulder to offer him courage and nodded for him to speak.
Even though Wace kept his spine straight, she could feel the tremors that shook him. Had she known the inadvertent terror she’d cause the poor lad, she’d have never insisted on his help.
The youth cleared his throat and bravely lifted his chin as if he faced the worst horror imaginable. “I didn’t mean to leave milady unattended to seek help for you, milord. I pray that you can forgive me.”
Though Valteri’s face and tone were stern, she saw the twinkle in his eyes. “Aye, she could have been harmed, boy.”
