Page 44 of Ties of Starlight

Nyrunn…

This feeling flooding her, coming from the other side of the bond, she’d never felt it before. Not in all her lifetimes. She couldn’t quite make it out…

But she was safe with him.

She didn't have to say a word; she just looked up at him. His gaze shifted, and then he was following her. She was in his arms again, curled up against his chest.

“I don't understand,” she whispered.

Nyrunn shook his head, arms around her as she rested her palm against his shirt. “You'll drive yourself insane trying to understand that coward.”

“Not him.” She looked up. “You.”

His hand was shifting up and down her back again, gaze soft and warm. Bror had never looked at her like that. Had Olaug?

He asked, “What about me?”

She licked her lips. “All of you. Why? Why would you care about protecting my feelings?”

“Will you believe me if I tell you?” he whispered. “Or will you call me a liar?”

“Don't lie and I won't call you a liar.”

“You have no ability to tell the truth from lies.” His grin was bitter, seeping into his words. “You are all backwards.”

Maybe he was right.

“All I've done is lash out and accuse you of terrible things. I'm half-human.” She pulled her palm away from his chest, curling in on herself even as she stayed in his arms. “I'm... I'm a danger to everyone.”

What if she snapped like she had last time? What if Nyrunn said the wrong thing and she lost control?

His hand came up to her jaw, tilting it up to face him. “You didn't attack Lady Katla. You were tearing at your birthmark, and she tried to stop you; that's how she got scratched. Then she slapped you and sent you to the ground. She claims she was trying to snap you out of it, but I have my doubts.”

Really?

Still, Idonea knew what she was capable of. Even if shehadn’t attacked Lady Katla, that didn’t mean Nyrunn was safe.

His hand fell to her shoulder, fingertips tracing lower, around the scratches and her deathmark. “The only person I'm concerned about you damaging is yourself.”

“I'm sorry,” she whispered, leaning into his arms.

His hand stilled. “For what?”

“Everything. For the fact I drove Olaug away and now you're stuck taking his place, being married to me.”

His grip tightened and his eyes burned as he caught her gaze. The fire of his fury struck her right in her chest. “He left because he is a selfish coward. Not because of you. That's why I didn't want you to read that letter. He doesn't deserve the privilege of that. His filthy words and lies have no place in your head.”

He couldn't understand. He would never understand. So Idonea stayed silent and just focused on the sound of his heartbeat.

As she fell asleep, she thought she heard, “And for how little it's worth to you, you are more than enough for me. I'll show you. I'm never going to abandon you.”

Chapter 16

Idonea woke up warm, with that strange feeling all around her. She didn't know how or why, but she felt... safe. Wanted.

She blinked her eyes open and looked down at the lines on her arm and focused on the feeling. It was all coming from the other side of the bond.

That was when she realized the warmth was because of the chest she was sleeping on and the arms wrapped around her, one around her waist and the other across her back, his hand in her hair.

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