Page 73 of Under the Mistletoe
“Yes, but I need to convince my editors I can do this romance thread, which means I have to conclude the romance at the end of the book, not five chapters from the end.” He downed the rest of his milk and spun the glass in his hand.
“Well, then find the new conflict for Rand and Astryn.”
“What conflict? They’re married. Nothing stands in the way of their happiness but Rand’s guilt. I don’t really want to write about that for five chapters.”
His dad eyed him over his reading glasses.
“What?”
“You think marriage is the end of conflict?”
“Ha.” His mom walked into the room and poured herself a cup of coffee. “Marriage opens a whole new realm of conflict you never considered before.”
His tense conversation with Devin had conflict, but they had worked through that. “You want me to just make them fight? That sounds?—”
“No.” His mother sat in the chair between him and his dad. “Early in a relationship, your shared values bond you together. You like the same things, prioritize the same things, but not all of your values will align. What will you do when your values run into conflict with each other?”
“They both value defeating the enemy.” Logan shrugged. That didn’t get him any further.
“But Rand wants to defeat the enemy because he values avenging his brother.” He pointed at Logan. “Loyalty to his brother is his highest value.”
“Which means he might have a hang-up or two about taking Astryn as his wife.” His mom tapped the table. “It could feel disloyal to him. Astryn values defeating her enemy because she values keeping Cambria in peace. Peace is her highest value. How do you think she’ll feel about Rand being so focused on avenging his brother that he isn’t seeing her?”
Logan stared out the window a moment. Another fresh layer of snow had appeared last night. It would be perfect for the snowman contest he should be at. A contest that started in forty minutes. Yeah, he knew a thing or two about conflicting values. He stood and then carried his glass to the sink. “Thanks.”
He hurried back up to his room and settled into his chair. First, he sent off a quick text to Devin.
Logan
Struggling to get my chapter in. I’ll be there as soon as I can.
The “read” notification appeared, but there was no response. Maybe his parents were onto something about conflict. But she had to understand he couldn’t blow off his job.
He needed to get this done, then he’d hurry over.
* * *
The flames licked over the small twigs, and Rand added a few more logs to the fire. “That should keep us warm and offer you a bit of light.”
“Me?” Astryn’s voice squeaked.
“I need to go get the horses settled where I left them in the last small cavern. I’ll bring our packs.”
He stood, and she immediately followed. “I’ll walk with you.”
The flickering light of the small fire made his strong features appear even more fierce. “I need you to see to the fire. It will need more wood in a minute.”
He looked ready to say more but instead turned and disappeared through the crack in the wall, taking the torch with him. She’d never seen Rand take charge like this. Gone were the heated looks and tenderness.
A finger of guilt still wedged itself between her ribs. The moment she found out she’d marry Rand rather than Orin, she’d felt…relief. Nothing in her wanted Orin dead. Even now, the idea she’d never laugh with him again gutted her.
She just hadn’t wanted to marry him. Hadn’t wanted to be Rand’s sister-in-law. But at least Orin had wanted to marry her. And the love Rand had once had for her seemed to have died with his brother. Now she was simply his responsibility. And that fact was almost as heartbreaking as Orin’s death.
The fire made a little light, but the dark shadows seemed more menacing. Had that one moved? Her breathing sped up as she gripped one of the rocks by her feet.
With her free hand, she grasped the pendant. She hadn’t told anyone of the day in the garden lest they think she was crazy, but with everything that had happened, she couldn’t help but wonder if they were after her—or the necklace.
The necklace she’d failed to save Orin with. Surely that was what his mother had meant. A day would come when he was mortally wounded and she would have to choose. Only she hadn’t been there. She had failed her mission from Origin.
