Just the sight of him sent relief coursing through her. She almost trembled with it.
His gaze moved over her. “Going somewhere?”
She threw herself into his arms.
He caught her and held her against him.
His embrace was warm and comforting and strong. She sank into him, his rich male scent, his reassuring touch. He was all she could ever want. He had told her that he loved her. And she realized she loved him, also. Desperately.
He kissed the top of her head, his hand stroking her back. “It’s over,” he whispered.
She pulled back to look into his brown eyes.
“Aurora’s cousin’s betrothed aided in the battle. His army surprised them from the rear. The Hungars were overtaken, either captured or dead.”
“It’s over?” she repeated in disbelief.
Gawyn nodded.
She should have felt happiness, she should have felt relief, but the sadness lingered. “It doesn’t bring Adam back.”
Gawyn shook his head. “We’ll give him a proper burial on the farm.” He closed his eyes for a long moment and dipped his head. When he looked at her again, there was anguish burning in his orbs. “I’m sorry, Justina. I brought you both here… I never thought –”
She pressed her fingers against his lips, stopping him. “This isn’t your fault. How could you have known? How could I have known?” She shook her head. “It just doesn’t help the pain.” Her eyes watered as she looked up at him. “I miss him.”
Gawyn nodded. “Me, too.”
Justina looked down at Gawyn’s plate armored chest. She ran her hand over its cold hardness. “I have to go home.”
Gawyn tightened his grip on her. “This is your home now.”
Justina shook her head. “This can never be my home.”
“Stay here. I’m sure there’s work you can do here. Aurora will find something.”
Justina’s brows knit. “I can’t.” She looked up at him. “I can’t stay here.”
“I want you to.”
She placed a hand on his cheek. “I can’t. Not here with your brother. There is no justice for my father.”
Agony swept over Gawyn’s face. “He’s not the same man.”
Justina knew part of that savage killer still lived inside of Damien. She had glimpsed it when they returned Aurora to him. She softly shook her head. “He is when I look at him.”
Gawyn looked away from Justina toward the stone floor, his brow furrowed with conflict and anguish. His hands slipped from her body. He nodded and stepped away from her.
Cold invaded the space where his body had been. Justina wanted to reach for him. Instead, her fingers curled into fists.
“Where will you go?”
She couldn’t look at him, either. It was just too painful. She didn’t want to give him up, but she knew this was his home. At the castle. “I want to rebuild. Uncle Bruce would have wanted it.”
He turned away from her. “I don’t like you being out there alone.”
Justina grinned a humorless smile. “I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll make sure you have adequate protection.” He nodded to himself. “I’ll send supplies with you and people to help you build.”
