Page 44 of Einar

“Ican smell the distress rolling off of you in waves, and it is pulling at my mate bond.Wecall it the heartbond and it allows me to feel some of your emotions as well.Itis telling me to soothe you and fix whatever it is that is causing your upset, but sinceIam the one causing you emotional distress, there is nothingIcan do.Thesensation is not an overly pleasant one.”

Guiltfills me.Thisis a specific example of why his gods have done him dirty.I’mnot fit to be anyone’s mate.

“Einar,I’mso sorry.Iknow that you thinkI’myour mate and a dream come true, butI’mjust a broken human woman with nothing left to give anyone.Wouldyou still want me ifItold you more men, and some women, thanIcan count have violated every orifice of my body?Thatmy blood has been used as lube more often than not.Thatthe man who promised to love, honor, and cherish me allowed his friends to pass me around like a party favor night after night.Thatsometimes he forced me to take substances to make my body respond pleasurably to being raped by multiple men.Myhusband was a monster.Hebroke me and then remade me into the perfect toy with which to play with.I’mnothing more than a high-class whore because that’s whatIwas forced to become in order to survive.I’mfilth, and no matter how muchItry to wash it off, it never leaves me.Youdon’t want that for a mate.”

Raisingmy tear-filled eyes,Ilook him dead in the eye to watch his reaction to my revelations.

Hismossy green skin pales as the blood drains from his face and tears well in his yellow dragon eyes.Slowly, he stands and moves toward me with deliberate steps, making sure he doesn’t make any sudden movements that might scare me.Evenwith all his caution,Ifeel the first flick of fear curl through my belly when he stops next to my bed and reaches out with one of his massive hands, curling it around my neck and jaw as his thumb whispers across my freckled skin.

Carefully, yet firmly, he pulls my face up so thatI’mforced to look at him, held captive by the emotion emanating from his inhuman gaze.

“Rowan, littleStarshine, my hearts break for you.Nofemale should have to endure what you have.Not.Ever.Deepinside, you are stillRowan, and nothing done to your physical person will ever change that.Whatwas done to you does not make you less worthy of being my mate.Infact, it makes you perfect for me.Iwas trained to heal what could not be healed, to see what others cannot, and to understand the misunderstood.Thegods knew what they were doing when they gifted your soul to mine, and mine to yours.Youneed not ever worry about me wanting you becauseIsee more than just your beautiful body.Ican see your soul, my mate, and it is breathtaking.”

Bythe time he finishes speaking,I’msobbing, the weight of my head held within his calloused palm asIcry out my emotions.Idon’t know how longIcry but he stands patiently next to my bed, holding me together with one giant hand.Whenmy crying fit is winding down, he smoothly removes his hand with one last caress along my jaw before he removes myIVfrom my arm and places some sort of patch where the needle slid from arm.Einarthen methodically steps back from the bed, giving me the space he knowsIneed.

Ayawn catches me by surprise.

“Itis getting late, andIam sure you are tired.Tomorrowis a new rising and we can face it when it comes.

Pullingthe warm blanket up to my chin,Iscoot back down on the bed, rolling to face away from him asIdo so.Justbecause he says pretty things, doesn’t mean anything.Robertstarted out with pretty words, heartfelt gestures, and extravagant gifts.Lookwhere that got me.

Einarmakes no response to my silent snub andIhear his heavy tread move away from me, back toward the door on the other side of the room only to return after a few minutes.Asoft, swishing behind me catches my attention andIwait untilIhear him leave before turning over.

WhatIsee makes tears fill my eyes again.

Hebrought me a dress and not just any dress.It’sa beautiful, dark green gown that has sleeves!Scramblingout of the bed,Igrab it and pull it on over my head, sighing at the sensation of being clothed for the first time in a very long time.Thedress is a little big on me, but it has a modest neckline that comes up to my collar bones and sleeves that extend all the way down to my wrists.Notonly is my entire upper body covered, but the hem reaches my ankles soI’mcompletely covered.

Twirlingaround,Igiggle a little at the flutter the hem makes as the material swings with my movements.

Outof the corner of my eyeIsee movement and my head jerks up in response.Einaris standing in the doorway watching me with a soft smile on his brutish face as he watches me.

Duckingmy head,Irub the sleeve of my dress with the tips of my fingers, the decadent material making me smile again.

“Thankyou.”

Hishearing must be much better than a humans because he hears me as if we’re standing next to one another.

“Youare most welcome,Rowan.”

Hisquiet words wash over me before he turns and leaves.

Climbingback into bed,Isituate my pretty new dress around me asIsettle in and finally relax as sleep claims me.

ChapterTwenty-Nine

EINAR

Rowan’sdistresspulls me from a sound sleep, andIknow that whatIam about to walk into is going to be bad… very bad.Pullingon the sleep pantsIdiscarded at the side of my bed last night,Ihurriedly pull them on and stride into the med bay.Myeyes land on the bed whereIlast saw her and my stomach hits my feet whenIsee it is empty.

“Rowan?”

Mysoft call is met with a whimper from across the room.Mymate has tucked herself into the farthest corner, huddling there between a cabinet and the wall to make herself look as small as possible as she rocks back and forth.JustasIstart toward her my comm goes off.Glancingdown,Ihesitate before answering it.

“Yes?”

“Einar, there is much thatKallensays she needs to tell us, but she is insistent that we all be together when she does.Youneed to meet us in the dining chamber as soon as possible.”

Asnarl escapes beforeIcan stop it in response toBikarand his irritating summons.

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