Page 192 of Moon Craving

heart.

Emily had expressed the wish to be there when Abigail confronted Talorc with her

knowledge of the truth.

Only Abigail wasn't sure she had any intention of doing so. She had no desire to

have him tell her to her face why he did not believe her worthy to know the truth. Nor did

she want to risk Emily getting in trouble with the other Chrechte. No doubt Lachlan would

protect her, after all Lachlan of the Balmoral loved his wife, but Abigail did not want to risk

causing her sister even the slightest grief.

Emily had never done aught but protect and encourage her. She deserved the

same in return.

The next day, Abigail left their "bed" before Talorc woke, having no desire to speak

to her husband while her mind and emotions were in such turmoil.

She did not know if she could forgive him for withholding the sound of his voice

from her when he had the power to gift her with it.

Her thoughts in a jumbled mess, she was not paying as close attention as usual

traversing the narrow stairway. Her foot landed against the step, but something rolled

under her shoe. Losing her footing, she tripped forward. She grabbed desperately for the

wall, but the smooth stone did not give her purchase.

Terror gripped her. She was going to fall. Unable to stop her forward momentum,

she did her best to throw her weight toward the wall, rather than the empty air, and tuck

her head down. She wrapped her arms around it in hopes of preventing a fatal hit as she

continued to try to halt her bumping tumble.

She screamed Talorc's name in her head as she landed with a heavy thump at the

bottom of the steps that caused her arms to flail involuntarily. Her head knocked against

the wall and that was the last she knew.

Abigail awoke on the furs in her bedchamber to an insistent voice demanding her

attention. Talorc was leaning over her, his expression fiercely concerned. Or so it

seemed. She ignored the voice in her head, knowing it was him calling to her. She turned

her head away.

He touched her ear, telling her he wanted to say something.