\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
I winced, momentarily wishing that Thom and I hadn\u2019t decided to stay put.\u00a0 Sif\u2019s flat tone could only mean one of two things\u2014that she was in shock, or that she just didn\u2019t care.<\/p>\n
I was banking on the former but terrified it might actually be the latter.<\/p>\n
Thordin closed his eyes, tilting his head back and taking a deep, slow breath.\u00a0 \u201cShe wants Phelan. She wants him terribly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sif glanced at us.\u00a0 \u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo rut like dogs in heat,\u201d Neve said, her expression twisting in disgust.\u00a0 \u201cI think she finds that preferable to just killing him outright.\u201d<\/p>\n
I flinched, glancing toward Thom.\u00a0 He shook his head grimly.\u00a0 \u201cI just know what Cameron said…and that was it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHell,\u201d I breathed.\u00a0 The thought that she\u2019d want to do more than just kill him was mind-boggling.<\/p>\n
All things considered, though, I guess it makes sense\u2014somehow.<\/i>\u00a0 The thought still made me sick to my stomach.<\/p>\n
Poor Phelan.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re serious,\u201d Sif said, her voice quieter now.\u00a0 I could pick up a trace of emotion now\u2014maybe outrage, maybe something else.\u00a0 \u201cShe said it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCameron and Jacqueline heard her and they\u2019ve got no reason to lie,\u201d Neve said, steel under the softness of her voice.\u00a0 \u201cIf they said that\u2019s what she was after, it\u2019s the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the truth,\u201d Thordin said quietly.\u00a0 He crouched next to Sif, staring at her for a long, aching moment.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s my friend, Sif.\u00a0 Forgive him for what you think he might have done.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know he didn\u2019t tell you,\u201d she said, staring at the fire.\u00a0 \u201cI know it was the prince of princes.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t matter.\u00a0 Why didn\u2019t you find me?\u00a0 Why didn\u2019t you look?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow could I?\u201d he whispered.\u00a0 \u201cI was dead.\u201d<\/p>\n
I leaned against Thom as I watched them and he put his arm around me, hugging me close.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have a second chance now,\u201d I said softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s right,\u201d Thordin said.\u00a0 \u201cWe do.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cWhat?\u201d I winced, momentarily wishing that Thom and I hadn\u2019t decided to stay put.\u00a0 Sif\u2019s flat tone could only mean one of two things\u2014that she was in shock, or that she just didn\u2019t care. I was banking on the former … Continue reading