Page 50 of The Daughter of the Scarred Elf

“Sylvi and him were expecting a child when …” He didn’t need to finish his sentence. She caught the slight rise and fall of his voice and the momentary pain flashing in the icy depths of his blue eyes. It was gone in a split second. Like a mask clicking in place, he continued, “Gunnar has been my best friend since childhood. All three of them are good friends of mine.”

“Blár, I’m so sorry.” Kolfinna didn’t know what else to say. She momentarily forgot about the betrayal she had felt, the pain that had seized her heart. She wanted to comfort him somehow, but she had no idea how to do that.

He waved a hand, dismissing her words. “Forget about that. Why are you upset? Did someone in the group say something? Did they treat you badly?”

The hardness in his tone didn’t go unnoticed by her. “No … They’ve been treating me well.”

“Then what is it?”

You.

Kolfinna sighed loudly. Her feelings were messy and she needed to decompress everything that had happened in these past few hours. The kiss, the hugs, the fact that their relationshipwas muddy at best, her feelings—there was a lot to unpack. “I don’t know, Blár. I’m just … confused.”

“About what?”

Us.

“Everything.” She shrugged and picked at a dent in the wooden chair in front of her. “I’m in a new place with new people and new duties. It’s a lot to take in, I guess.”

“Why are you even here? Shouldn’t you be with the Royal Guards?”

“You would know,” she said suddenly, her voice sharp, “if you had gone to my trial.”

He blinked back, as if not expecting her ire.

“Aren’tyousupposed to be at the eastern border?” Kolfinna countered.

“I transferred here.”

“Why?”

He lifted his shoulder and looked out the window. His jaw was set tight. “Reasons.”

“I …” Kolfinna felt foolish for even thinking it, but she had expected more from him when he first saw her. She had expected him to be happy to see her. The image of his surprised face made her insides twist painfully. He had looked displeased. “What … What are you doing here?” he had asked.

She pushed those thoughts away. “I’m happy to see you here, really.” Kolfinna’s smile came out somehow strained. She would just have to smile and be a friend. She had never thought the wordfriendcould sound so bitter, but since she was planning to escape Sijur’s clutches and leave this place behind, it was better this way. She would be a good friend and depart from him on good terms.

Blár watched her carefully. His gaze trailed from her tight smile to her white-touched hair. “It’s good to see you too,” he murmured, reaching forward and grazing a knuckle along hercheekbone. Her breath caught in her throat as he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

Kolfinna backed away even as her heart raced and even though she wanted to lean into his touch. She clasped her hands together tightly behind her back and tried to laugh casually, as if that little moment hadn’t made her stomach flutter with a cage of butterflies. She would have to keep her distance from him if she wanted to make it easier for her heart to leave.

“I really should go now.” She glanced at the doorway. “I’ve had a long day and I really just want to knock out in bed. So … yeah, I’ll see you around?”

“Prob—”

“Great!” She zoomed past him to the door. She had wrenched open the door three inches when he called out from behind her.

“Hey, sweet-cheeks.”

Her ears reddened at that nickname. She had thought he had forgotten about that.

“Hm?”

Blár was leaning against the table, his grin subtle. “It really is good to see you.”

Words failed her and she could only nod. Distance, she told herself. She really needed to keep her distance. He was far too dangerous for her heart.

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