Page 146 of Moon Craving

As he stared at her, a look of horrified understanding dawned in Guaire's usually

warm green eyes. The horror turned to unmistakable pity as she felt the color drain from

her face.

Talorc knew. They all knew. Her affliction had been laid bare.

Somehow Talorc had realized the truth of Abigail's infirmity at the lake and he had

brought her back here to test his new knowledge in front of his warriors. Darkness played

at the edges of Abigail's vision, but she refused to give in to the weakness. She would not

faint.

But it took several deep breaths before her body was in agreement with the

conviction of her mind.

Pain lancing through her, she faced her husband in silent entreaty.

But there was no mercy to be found in him. His countenance was so dark with

anger she flinched away from him.

A look of disgust crossed his features. "Have you kept so much of yourself hidden

you do not know me any better than that? I will never hit you."

The words were harsh, but his expression was harsher.

It was just as she had feared. He knew she was deaf and now he hated her. She

was flawed and he did not want her anymore. Like many in the Church, he believed her

infirmity deserved punishment rather than compassion.

"You are deaf," he said with clear antipathy, confirming her fear.

Everything inside her stilled as hope drained away to leave her hollow. The time for

acknowledging the truth had come. "I--"

"Dinna lie to me," he said, interrupting her confession. "Though that is all you have

done since the moment of our meeting."

She shook her head. That was not true. She had hidden her affliction, but she had

not lied about anything else. Not ever.

His glare turned sulfuric. "You cannot deny it. I shouted a warning when I heard the

swine coming through the forest, but you did not react in any way. Then, just now, I had

my soldiers yell a war cry and you did not so much as twitch though such a noise would

have sent even a seasoned warrior running."