Rule of the Shieldmaiden by Jaime Loughran

Author:Jaime Loughran [Loughran, Jaime]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781708208813
Published: 2019-11-11T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

“Don’t say that.” Thora pulled back, but couldn’t bring herself to look at him. She didn’t want to see the hurt she’d find on his face.

Galinn let his hands fall away. “Why? You made me see the error in my judgment, and in the process, I’ve realized I can’t deny my feelings for you. What’s wrong with telling you how I feel?”

The injury in his voice threatened to crush her heart. She shook her head. “Nothing. Not really. It’s not the time for that.” She doubted he’d understand.

From the corner of her eye, she watched him sag into the chair behind him. She returned to her seat and fidgeted with a loose thread on her tunic, paying it far more attention than it warranted.

“You don’t love me.” His tone was matter of fact and lacked accusation, as if he spoke of something as simple as the weather.

Her eyes jerked to his face and she saw heartbreak written across every feature. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. How could she explain her feelings in a way that made sense when she wasn’t entirely sure of what the problem was herself? It wasn’t that she didn’t have feelings for him, because she did. If she were completely honest with herself, she’d admit she did love him. Why else would she risk everything to tell the people of the village about his past in the hopes they’d allow him to come back? It wasn’t only because he belonged there, and deep down she knew it.

The source of her hesitation seemed to stem from the way he was brought back. He didn’t come back by choice. Bjorn had to drag him back by force. Then there was the fact that he left her once already. Thora shied away from examining those raw nerves, as thinking about them strummed those nerves and sent sparks of pain through every part of her heart. She sat up straight and squared her shoulders.

“Galinn, it’s not that I don’t love you. You hurt me… twice. First when you left, and again when you had to be brought here by force. You’re the only person in a position to cause me heartbreak like that, and I’m terrified of allowing you to get closer. I want you here with me, but I need time to see what your intentions are.” As she spoke, the problem made itself clear. She was afraid of the pain he’d cause her if he turned his back on her again.

Though her explanation didn’t wipe away the heartbreak on his face, he nodded. “I deserve that. I’m sorry I hurt you.” He drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair and then slapped it. “I’ll just have to do everything I can to undo the damage I’ve caused.”

A weight lifted from Thora’s shoulders now that they came to an understanding so quickly. She was willing to give him the chance to earn her trust, and to see where the relationship went. Regardless of how the relationship turned out, however, she still wanted Galinn in the village.

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