He added more logs to the fire as Gwen took pillows from their bed. Then removed his boots and laid his dagger atop the hearth as Gwen turned off the music. They still hadn’t made love, not since she first told him she was pregnant. And they wouldn’t tonight. But Greylen held her as never before, vowing never to allow his anger to come between them again.

Just as he was falling asleep, he felt her hands upon his face, her whisper melting his heart anew. “I love you so much, Greylen, I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, Gwen. I love you so much too.”

Chapter 24

Greylen woke Gwen as she lay in his arms. They were still in front of the fire and he held her so tightly, she couldn’t move.

“I leave this morn, Gwen.”

“You’re going after MacFale, aren’t you?” she asked.

“Aye.”

“I’m sorry about last night, Greylen, I never meant—”

“No more apologies, Gwen. You acted on instinct. ’Tis only one of the many things I admire about you. But watching you run into the fire…”

“Are you still mad at me?”

“I feared for your life again and that you’d risk it… It nearly killed me. Forgive me my anger, Gwen.”

“I do, Greylen. I just want you to be safe. I’m scared for you.”

“You’ve nothing to fear. I’ll send word as soon as I can.”

A few minutes later, Gwen sat on the chest in their bathing chamber shaving Greylen’s beard. The impact of his departure creating a sensation in her chest, like it was being squeezed in a vise. She could sense that Greylen felt the same. Their silence was deafening.

When he finished dressing, he came to her as she stood on the trunk at the end of their bed. His hands encompassed her head and he kissed her as he never had before.

It was a kiss of remembrance. Slow and more than bittersweet.

Hand in hand, they walked down the stairs and into the courtyard. She stood by his side as he secured his belongings to the saddle. Then he led her back to the steps to stand with Isabelle and Lady Madelyn. He stared at her as he brushed his finger down her face. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear words that moved through her very soul.

They were the most beautiful words she’d ever heard, though he’d spoken them before. Every time they made love it was those words that he whispered most. She wanted so much to ask him what they meant, to beg him to take her upstairs and make love to her again. But she couldn’t speak. Her throat was closed, tight with emotion that threatened to strangle her.