Page 75 (1/2)

How could he trust Carroith a child of his when he'd been left by his parents to be brutalized again and again? His own mother had sold him as a slave and tried to murder him Why should he expect different fro trust issues of any person she'd ever known And Carrow had betrayed hilanced at his wrists He had far worse scars on the inside And I've ripped them wide open

"Nohat does the witch think of her husband?"

Chapter 43

Malkoust, even as he knew he shouldn't give a daed hi to for her He could not take her disgust, could not bear it fro in me about your past," she finally said "It explains a lot But it doesn't affect s at all"

He exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding Then his anger fired "How can you say that?" he snapped "Your words are false, usted?"

"I'm not I feel pain for what you've suffered and want to coed in the least"

Maybe she didn't understand how bad it'd been How dishonorably I behaved "I scavenged refuse, eating from filth I ood to rated, "I behaved as if I loved every second thewhatever he and his friends did to aze away, her eyes watered "I wish I could have saved you from that Could have rescued you fro with you, woman?" He ran his hand over his face "No, I know You treat ain protection, acting as if I do not disgust you"

"I', demon! You were a child! You did what it took to survive And thank the gods you did You grew into the noblest, bravest th and will to live, you were here to save "

Noblest? Malkom shook his head hard "You said the mortals wanted ht not even have been taken but for me"

"I may have been a pawn, but I believe they wanted Ruby anyway She was going to be captured regardless And if not for you, she would have died that night Why don't you reazed at the sky, then turned to hi you, but I do not regret being sent after you The very thought of never knowing you makes me feel sick inside"

He clenched his fists It does ut, this bitter doubt?

I do not want to feel this way anyo But there's soaze to say, "If you told e between us, then you've failed All you've done is make me care for youup all these memories, he ached inside He wanted to hurt her, to shake away that ain

As she turned back for the cabin, his hand shot forward, snagging her ankle to pull her to the sand "I'm not done with you, wife"

She twisted around to face hied or wary, her expression was fierce "Good, because I will never be done with you, Malkoainst his cheek Her eyes began to soften as she gazed up at hirew "The only reason you accept one likethem with one of his - "is that you know you will be vulnerable without nized this as well as he would his own harsh reflection in a pool "And when you are safe in your home, you will have no need of me"

"That's simply not true"

"Prove it," he said, his voice cruel "Prove to hborn woman so fine as you" - he clawed her shirt open to expose her brsts, giving each a brus"ue s"ueeze - "would want to lie with a male like me"