Chapter 203 Man to Man - Part 2

Chapter 203 Man to Man - Part 2

ETAN

"It might be, that I understand a man's choice to... to hurt another heart for her own safety. To... leave a love for... the greater good," he said carefully, his jaw clenched.

Etan's breath rushed out. "What:? When did—?"

"It might be that I could imagine how that might feel," Falek said, very carefully. "However... to do so without warning her. That I do not understand."

"If I had warned her and it had changed her reaction to the situation in even the tiniest part, her mother would have been onto her..." Etan shuddered. "She trapped me. When we first began to speak, she made it seem as if she might help us—as if she only wanted to make sure I could and would truly love Ayleth. But when she was convinced that I would, that I wouldn't be swayed from it, or tempted away... that was when she revealed her truth. Until then she remained civil. And when she turned she told me that if I'd had some modicum of ambition, or some selfish motive, she could have worked with that and would have helped us. But the fact that I loved Ayleth with my life, that I wouldn't consider betraying her or manipulating her... You should have seen her eyes, Falek. The woman is dark to her soul. My integrity was a wound and a barrier in her eyes—a disgusting one."

Falek nodded. "I know."

Etan was stunned. "Then how could you have served her for so long? How could you have stayed there? If you know the Father of Lights, how could you allow yourself to be a tool in their hands?!" Etan hissed.

"I am not," Falek said quietly. "Whether they believed I was or not, I already knew that my heart was not theirs. I suppose I had let myself feel... comfortable for a time. But getting you two married only proved my own heart to me. My calling, my loyalty is to Ayleth, not to her parents."

Etan reached up and took it, praying Ayleth wouldn't wake. He didn't wince when the soldier's grip cut off circulation to his arm for a moment.

Falek didn't smile, but something in his eyes danced.

When they released each other, the Knight Defender sat back and returned to his scrutiny of their surroundings, while Etan, his heart a good deal lighter, put his arm over Ayleth again and tried to rest.

She stirred again when he shifted so his arm wouldn't be too heavy at her waist, but her eyes didn't open.

He lay there, almost dozing, but not quite asleep, until Falek got up and began a circuit of the nearby forest.

Only then did Ayleth draw a hand up his spine and lift her chin. Without opening her eyes, she whispered, "Thank you."

Etan grunted and held her close.

Then Ayleth sighed. "Next time, please don't speak about me as if I'm a child. Honestly, it gets very tiresome being surrounded by men all the time," she said dryly.

Etan chuckled and pulled her closer. "I think many things of you, Ayleth, but being a child is definitely not one of them."