\u201cYou look like you\u2019ve been through a wringer,\u201d Jacqueline said softly as Phelan ducked into the small room where Thordin slept, pale and still as death.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I was,\u201d Phelan murmured, staring at his friend before his gaze flicked over to her. \u201cNeve told a story today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jacqueline arched a brow, silently inviting him to elaborate on his statement. Phelan closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was about Ciar. I\u2014Jac, I don\u2019t know how Marin\u2019s going to be the next few days.\u201d<\/p>\n
His lover blinked at him. \u201cWhat makes you say that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBrigh\u00edd is close to the surface,\u201d Phelan said, drawing a second chair toward Thordin\u2019s bedside and collapsing into it. \u201cIt worries me. When I got there, I could tell that\u2014well. I could tell.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re worried,\u201d Jacqueline said, her fingers deft as she knotted off a length of thread. The patchwork of a half-started quilt was spread across her knees, a project she left in that room for when she spelled Sif in sitting vigil. For a moment, Phelan hoped that Sif would be returning soon. His own nerves were getting the better of him.<\/p>\n
What the hell brought on that little storytelling session anyhow, I wonder?<\/em><\/p>\n Jacqueline\u2019s fingers wrapped around his and squeezed.<\/p>\n \u201cFretting about it isn\u2019t going to do you any good, now is it?\u201d<\/p>\n A bitter laugh escaped him. \u201cProbably not, but my brain isn\u2019t exactly that obedient, now is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMm. I suppose not.\u201d She squeezed his hand again before letting go. \u201cIs there anything I can do to help?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot yet,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cMaybe later, after the sun\u2019s gone down and we\u2019ve eaten and Sif is back on watch in here.\u201d<\/p>\n Color flooded into Jacqueline\u2019s cheeks and she gave him a little half-smile. \u201cIs that all?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou make it sound like it\u2019s nothing.\u201d Phelan leaned over, his lips brushing her cheek. \u201cRight now, what you and I have is the single most important thing in my world. Nothing else matters as much as that.\u201d<\/p>\n She stroked his cheek, callouses catching on the reddish stubble across his cheeks and jaw.<\/p>\n \u201cLove you, Phelan,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I, you, Jac,\u201d he whispered back. \u201cI love you, too.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cYou look like you\u2019ve been through a wringer,\u201d Jacqueline said softly as Phelan ducked into the small room where Thordin slept, pale and still as death. \u201cI feel like I was,\u201d Phelan murmured, staring at his friend before his gaze … Continue reading