“Gawyn,” Justina called. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for me.”
Gawyn stared at her, and his slow gaze moved over her face.
Sadness grew inside of her. She didn’t know if she could give him up. She loved him so. He was all she had left. Her family was gone.
She was afraid, she realized. She was afraid of losing him, too. Better this than loving him and having him taken from her.
She turned away, steeling her breaking heart, as he quietly left the room.
Gawyn couldn’t make Justina stay. And he couldn’t leave. He had abandoned Damien long ago and he had vowed never to leave him again.
He escorted Justina to the clearing before the city wall. Guards waited for her with the wagons of supplies Gawyn had collected near the forest. His hungry eyes swept her, trying to memorize every curve of her small body. He trembled with unease and want. He didn’t know what to say to her. With every part of his being, he wanted to go with her. He wanted to be part of her life as her husband.
He would never propose marriage when he knew he could not be with her. He glanced over his shoulder. Damien and Aurora stood in the road. Aurora had insisted on coming to say goodbye to her and Damien would never let her out of his sight again, Gawyn was certain.
Justina turned to them after inspecting the wagons. Her brown and white mare waited near the wagons. She looked at Gawyn for a very long moment, sadness in her large eyes. Then, her gaze shifted to Damien and the sadness vanished to be replaced with unease and fear.
Gawyn knew she was not ready to forgive Damien, if she ever would be. He wished he could make her see that he wasn’t that killer anymore. There was nothing he could say or do to make Justina acknowledge that.
Aurora stepped past him to Justina’s side. She stared at her for a long, quiet moment before wrapping her arms around her in a tight embrace.
Justina stood stiffly for a moment before melting into Aurora’s hug and squeezing her back. The women shared an experience neither would forget.
When they parted, Aurora brushed a strand of hair from Justina’s cheek. “You will visit again, won’t you?”
Justina grinned. “Of course. Soon.”
Everyone knew it was a lie. Gawyn’s heart squeezed tight.
Aurora moved to Damien’s side.
Justina approached Gawyn, her gaze on the ground. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“Thank me?” Gawyn echoed. “Don’t.” He shook his head. “I did nothing.”
She placed a hand on his. “You did all you could.”
Gawyn stared at her small hand on his. He couldn’t stop himself from taking it into his own.
“Come with me,” Justina whispered, her voice full and thick.
Gawyn lifted her hand to his lips. “My place is here. In Acquitaine. At Damien’s side.” He realized how stiff and hurtful his words were and hugged Justina tightly. “I would give it all up for you, Justina. But I can’t. I can’t leave him. He’s my brother.”
Justina held him, and a soft, broken sob echoed in his ears. She broke away from his hold and turned quickly, moving to her horse.
Gawyn stood frozen, as if his entire heart had been wrenched from his chest.
“You want to go with her?” Damien asked in astonishment. His brother now stood beside him, staring at him. “Back to her farm?”
“My place is here with you.” He looked at his brother. He had left Damien on that accursed slave ship, abandoned him when they were children, and it had taken Damien a lifetime to forgive him. He would never make that mistake again. “I left you once and I won’t do it again.”
“Good,” Damien murmured, unconvincingly.
Gawyn looked back at Justina. He watched her walk away toward her steed and couldn’t help the longing and anguish that consumed him.
Damien stared at the woman. He couldn’t even remember her name. He glanced at Gawyn. His brother’s eyes were fixed on her as though the sun rose and fell with her. Damien grimaced. What did he see in her? Part of this animosity was jealousy, Damien knew. He had just found Gawyn. He had just gotten his brother back and they had become friends. He depended on him more than he did with anyone else. How dare this woman come between them? He would not give him up.
And then Aurora stepped up beside him, sliding her fingers through his.
