Jacqueline stood, turning her back to Thordin and sliding her arms around her lover’s waist. “You’re worried. Why are you worried, Phelan?”
He sighed and closed his eyes, resting his forehead against hers. How could he describe the nameless, formless fear that had begun to coil itself around his heart? The unsettled feeling he knew was there but couldn’t shunt aside, couldn’t forget. Jacqueline’s arms tightened around him.
“It’s okay if you don’t know,” she whispered, then titled her face up to his. Their lips met and Phelan reveled in the all-too-brief moment, savoring the taste of her lips against his. He drew her tight against his chest and exhaled a ragged breath.
“Nothing I can name,” he breathed against her hair. “Just a feeling.”
“Oh.” She rubbed his back gently, comfortingly. He relaxed a fraction, inhaling the scent of lavender from her hair.
“I love you,” he murmured, and meant it—meant it with every fiber of his being. Jacqueline rested her chin against his chest and looked up at him, smiling.
“I know you do. I love you, too.”
He swallowed and smiled faintly, letting the smile fade after holding it for a brief moment. “She saw the Morrigan, Jac.”
His lover stiffened and drew back. “What?” She cast a quick glance toward Thordin. Phelan’s grip tightened.
“She didn’t come for him,” Phelan said. “Don’t panic. If someone was coming for him, it’d be bloody Valkyries. You know that.”
“I don’t know anything for certain anymore,” Jacqueline said, then shot him a wry smile that faded as quickly as his had. “So why did she come to Marin, then, if it wasn’t…you know.”
“To warn her,” Phelan said. “To tell her that Seamus had to go with Cameron and Thom. I don’t know more than that. She wouldn’t say.” He looked at Jacqueline again and took a deep breath. “Stay close to her, Jac.”
Her brows knit. “Of course. She’s my friend.”
“I know she is,” he said. “But stay close to Marin. Please?”
“I will. I promise.”
Relief flooded through him, relief that he couldn’t explain, just as he couldn’t explain why he’d felt the need to ask her to stay close to Marin. Phelan drew Jacqueline tight again and buried his face in her hair. “Thank you,” he whispered. “Thank you.”
wowzer…..still awesome! and foreboding…… O.O