Page 171 of North Queen
Her mind seemed to return as they walked. “I’d like to discuss my men’s assignment when they return from Mercia,” she said.
“Your man, Titus?”
It surprised her that he remembered his name. “Yes, and others.”
“I’ll see your guardsmen are named to the Crest.”
“Thank you,” she breathed, feeling a swell of relief. “Oh, and Caspian is a captain.” She’d see him assigned appropriately for his rank.
He nodded. “We will discuss him when he’s healed.”
This was progress.
“I hear the Bear—your lord justice—is investigating more attacks on North towns.”
“Mercian towns and those under Mercia’s protection. The same as the town we saw.” She pursed her lips in frustration. “We still don’t know who’s responsible.”
Mikael frowned, and she wondered what he was thinking. “You’ll let me know what he finds?” he asked.
“I will.”
The muscle along his jaw tightened. “Will you send him back to the North after he returns?”
She nodded reluctantly. “I do intend to,” she said.
“Good.” His tone held an edge of irritation, but his face lightened as their eyes met again.
They walked the rest of the way quietly, but it wasn’t an uneasy quiet; it was the quiet of comfort returning. He set a slow pace, seeming to enjoy the moment, as she was. When they reached the hall, he paused. “To the door?”
“Of course.”
But that distance only gave her the blink of an eye longer with him. At the door, he turned to her. His eyes seemed brighter than they usually were—lighter, almost brown.
“I must admit, when I gave you this sanctuary, I didn’t expect it to be where you’d stay. I fear I regret it now.”
Her pulse quickened as a worry balled in her stomach. Would he take it away from her?
“It’s a place I can’t follow after you, a place I can’t visit without your invitation.” He paused. “I want you to know I think of you… inviting me in. Often.”
Her pulse raced with each of his words. She wanted to invite him in, but when she opened her mouth, the words wouldn’t come. Perhaps it felt too forward, too bold, and too soon. She didn’t know.
“Can I not stay with you, just a while longer?” he asked.
It wasn’t a wise idea, she told herself, but she wasn’t ready to part from him yet. “Just a while longer,” she found herself saying.
The corners of his lips turned up.
It certainly wasn’t a wise idea. She chastised herself as she opened the sanctuary door and led him in. Now she wouldn’t be able to get him out. Did she want him out?
Norah poured herself a chalice of wine and drank deeply. The wine would help.
Mikael looked around the sanctuary. He smiled as he stepped closer. “What do you do in here?” he asked.
She thought about going home, thought about Alexander, thought abouthim.
“Read,” she replied.
He stepped closer—close enough to touch her. His eyes moved back and forth between hers, looking deep inside her. She set the chalice down. The wine wasn’t helping.
