Page 44 (1/2)

But when she blinked at him as if he'd spoken blaspheht that

"Noton ether, all we do is fight It just wasn't this hard" He trailed off

She stood as well,to say?"

"Nothing"

"It just wasn't this hard with other women?" When he didn't deny it, her lips parted "I a about your past conquests!"

"I can't do this any it

She stoodsilver with hurt and confusion A tear spilled, then another, each one a knife to his heart

He wanted to comfort her, to take her in his arms and ease that confusion Then he re for us is worth the trouble," sheto bother either" She strode froave a vile curse, fighting the iry, still exhausted They would only fightone of his brothers or Rurik He needed to talk with someone, to unburden himself But never to speak about Daniela No, never about her What would he say anyway? "Just looking at her wrecksand perfect - and always just out of reach"

Though his brothers weren't there, he found Rurik, Lukyan, and a few others ga in the castle's common area

"Murdoch, join us!" Rurik called "Have a drink"

Lukyan gave a snide laugh "He won't"

Clearly nothing had changed between Murdoch and hiht - Murdoch had been just about to decline When had he become so domesticated? So predictably doht of not having her, resented the strife between theht A stiff whiskey seeloves and settled in front of the great hearth fire, rebelliously basking in its warmth

Numb the ache One shot down

Blunt the need Then another

CHAPTER 33

Danii ht out into the blizzard All around her, snowdrifts crested and furrowed, illustrating the path of the gusts

With her gohipping about her thighs, she sniffled, running her forears to be easy between her and Murdoch, but she'd thought the prize orth the fight

Maybe he was right Maybe I should bail She'd never considered it before Not until he'd all but dared her to Another swipe over her eyes

Murdoch equalseach other Where was the liods, she did love hih the Valkyrie didn't have "fated mates" per se, they believed that one would know her partner when she realized she would always run to get into his arht to hi for Danii, not yet -

Her ears twitched Even over the wind, she heard so followed, but for some reason she didn't believe it was Murdoch

Then who the devil would be out here?

When a footstep crunched in the snow, she whirled around, spied a male in the icy shadows His breaths didn't sain! Her eyes darted, scanning for the rest of the assassins in the blustery night She'd been unwary; now she would pay for it

And all she could think of was how she'd left things with Murdoch

Yet the male raised his palms "My name is Jadian the Cold" His voice was deep-toned, raspy