Rune would, though. I was certain of it. All those things he hated about himself? He was wrong about them. His dark past didn’t matter, not compared to all the good he’d done sincethen. And while hewasawkward at times, he was also kind, and funny, and generous to a fault.
He was also incredibly handsome. The fact he thought he wasn’t, just because of his tusks, was ludicrous. If anything, they gave him an edge.
My heart dropped into my stomach as an intrusive thought pushed its way to the surface of my mind. One I’d been trying very hard to ignore.
IlikedRune.
No, it was more than that. I was pretty sure I was falling for him.
20
FRIDA
The next morning, I felt like I had to tiptoe around the cottage to avoid the feelings that had sprung free last night, worried I’d step right into another trap of them. Every time I looked at Rune, I felt ensnared again. And when he passed me a mug of tea across the table, I could have sworn his eyes were burrowing into my mind and reading my thoughts. I couldn’t possibly bear the thought of him knowing I had feelings for him. My pesky emotions needed to get a grip. This thing between us—a very one-sided thing, that much was abundantly clear—could go nowhere. Rune had never shown even an ounce of interest in me that way, and even if he had, I’d sworn a vow of celibacy.
More importantly, I had to leave this island soon.
Still, that knowledge didn’t stop me from staring at his powerful, calloused hands as he hauled the door open to go to work. An image rose in my mind of those hands wrapped around my thighs, and I let out a strangled noise. Frowning, Rune looked over his shoulder at me, his broad shoulders outlined by the sun’s morning light.
“Everything all right, Frida?” he asked, my name curling off his tongue.
“Yes, fine,” I said, brushing invisible crumbs off the front of my tunic.
He squinted at me. “If you’re sure…”
“Very sure,” I chirped.
A beat passed. “Are you going to visit Eldi this afternoon?”
“That’s the plan.” I’d mulled over Rune’s words from the night before, and I’d come to a decision. Eldi did need my help. He clearly wished for the skies, but fear kept him grounded. I would try to get him airborne, if only for his sake. And if he was willing to fly to the mainland after that, I’d welcome his help. Butonlyif he had conquered his fear. I wouldn’t push him beyond that.
“Good. I’ll come with you,” Rune said with a nod.
I swallowed. As much as a part of me yearned for his company, the other part—the part that couldn’t stop imagining how it would feel to have him kiss me—wanted to run screaming in the other direction. I’d planned to avoid spending time alone with him until I had to leave. But this would be a two-hour trek, then two hours back. That was a lot of time with just the two of us. Alone.
A lot of time where I’d have to force myself to ignore my blossoming feelings.
“Are you sure?” I asked. “I thought you were too busy with Helga’s house build to spend an entire afternoon hiking to the mountains and back.”
He smiled. “The villagers saw how much work needed doing, and they’ve all chipped in to help. I tried to tell them I could handle it myself, but they’ve insisted. So it’ll be done in no time.”
“Really?” I smiled back. “That’s so lovely of them, Rune.”
“They’re good folk. I should have known they’d be eager to help in any way they could.”
This place. These people. Now I understood why Rune wanted to protect them, beyond even what the magic could do.
Themagic.
Suddenly, I understood what I must do. I didn’t have to deliver Erik a dragon, and I certainly didn’t have to return with my first kill notched into my belt. All we needed was for Erik to believe that the magic of this place had held firm against his machinations. He needed to think his loophole hadn’t worked. That there was no way for someone in the guild to reach this island, no matter what tricks he tried, which meant he’d have to give up his quest of ever finding Rune. He had to believe there was no hope.
I shook my head, smiling. How had I not seen it before? It was the best solution for everyone. When I returned to the guild, I would tell Erik I’d never stepped foot on these shores. The magic had stopped me.
That afternoon, Rune and I made the journey to Eldi’s cave on two pairs of tired feet. Despite the volunteers assisting with Helga’s build, Rune wore weariness like a heavy cloak, and my muscles ached from my days spent building Arvid’s fence. This past week had involved more physical labor than I’d ever done until now. Still, neither of us complained. We walked in a companionable silence, our elbows occasionally brushing. Every time the edge of his sleeve touched mine, I had to steel my spine and focus my gaze on the path ahead. I refused to let him see how much I wanted to turn an unintentional graze into something far more.
After a time, I couldn’t bear the silence any longer. “What’s your favorite thing in the world, Rune?”
I thought he might scowl or grumble at the abrupt question, but he cocked his head and furrowed his brow as if he were seriously considering his answer. “Your drawing of Arvid’s fence.”
