Page 156 of Whisper of Nightmares

“Married then?”

The words barely leave him and already Euphemia’s throat is closing. “Yes.”

For a heartbeat, Dagfinn simply stares at her.

She watches the realization move across his face: shock, confusion, and then a smile. Small at first. Disbelieving, even.

“You are my wife?” His voice has gone strangely soft.

“Yes,” is all she seems to be able to say, her breath held inside her chest about to pop.

A smile slowly pulls at the edges of his mouth. Not his usual wolfish smirk. Not the teasing curve she has come to expect whenever he knows he has her flustered. This is something entirely different.

Something bright.

Something helpless.

“Gods,” he whispers. A breathless laugh escapes him, and he shakes his head as though he still cannot quite believe it. “A wife.”

There is confusion and wonder in those words and Euphemia’s heart aches as she watches him reconcile the fact that his life moved forward without him. And he was trapped here, unable to do anything about it.

Then his eyes find hers again, and the smile turns almost boyish. “You mean to tell me that all this time I’ve been falling for you, and you were already mine?”

Euphemia’s cheeks burn. Her stomach dips into something delicious.

She can only nod, afraid that anything else will tip her over.

Because how can he be looking at her like that right now? How can he learn of such an offense and still want to gaze at her as if he never wants to look away? How can he possibly fall for someone who was so selfish and desperate she was willing to do anything to evade the thing haunting her.

Another laugh escapes him, short and teasing. He plants his hands on his hips, shoulders broad. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”

A breath loosens from her chest.

Relief and surprise fills her.

There is no anger in his words. Only astonishment.

When she finally gets her mouth to cooperate, her words drip as slow as honey. “I was trying to wait until you were awake and back in your normal life again.”

He laughs again, softer this time. Then almost to himself, he says again, “My wife.”

The words send a shiver down Euphemia’s spine.

All her fears are starting to evaporate.

Then, torturously, confusion finally catches up to him.

“How is that possible? I’ve been unconscious for months.”

There it is.

The start of the end, she thinks.

“I know.” Euphemia tries to explain. “Believe me, I said the same thing when Asvald started the ceremony. But he and Kelda said it was still binding, that our marriage was legal, even if you weren’t present.”

He scoffs at the idea, dragging a hand through his hair as he thinks. “But…why?”

Euphemia swallows. “As I said, your mother wants you home. She’s tried just about everything to get you back.”