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He said nothing, just stood there, looking lost and full of self-loathing His head bowed, his hair curtaining his face

"Stay with

"How could you? How could anyone?" he asked bitterly

Ah, she thought, understanding He hungered to be part of the mortal world--that hy he’d co--but he felt he didn’t deserve it He feared no one would want him, that once she knehat he’d been, she would cast hilanced away, but not before she saw the hope warring with the despair in his gaze

Rising to her feet, Jane held out her hand "Take my hand, Aedan That’s all you need do"

"You doona knohat these hands have done"

"Take one, lass A woman such as you is not for the likes of me"

"Take my hand," she repeated "You can take it now Or ten years fro here waiting for you to takeyou"

His anguished gaze shot to hers "Why?"

"Because I love you," Jane said, her eyes filling with tears "I love you, Aedan MacKinnon I’ve loved you forever"

"Who are you? Why do you even care about me?" His voice rose and cracked hoarsely

"You still don’t reht hard, pushing into the deepest part of hi tower of ice still lay behind his breast, concealing so Helplessly, he shook his head

Jane sed hard It didn’t really matter, she told herself He didn’t have to re She could live with that, if it meant she could spend the rest of her life here on this island with him "It’s okay," she said finally with a brave s as you--" She broke off abruptly, feeling suddenly too vulnerable for words

"As long as I what, lass?"

In a small voice, she finally said, "Do you think you could care for me? In the way a man cares for his woman?"

Aedan sucked in a harsh breath If only she knew For the week he’d wandered, he’d thought of little else Knowing he should do her the favor of never returning, yet unable to stay away Drea Until, unable to push her fro himself for a fool, he’d returned to Dun Haakon to force her to force hiaze To be sent away so he could die inside