Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
"Let me see yer shoulder."
Magnus looked up from where he sat on the edge of the bed, unlacing his boots. "It's fine."
"It's been three days since the fire. I should check it." Ada moved closer, her hands already reaching for the linen wrapped around his shoulder. "Just let me look."
Magnus sighed but stayed still while she unwrapped the bandage. The burn was healing well, no signs of infection, the skin knitting back together cleanly. Ada traced the edge of it gently with her fingertips.
"It looks good," she said. "Looks like it'll barely scar."
"Ye did good work."
"Mairi did good work. I just cleaned it." Ada rewrapped the shoulder with fresh linen, tying it off securely. "There. All done."
She stepped back, but Magnus caught her wrist gently. "Ada."
"Aye?"
"Thank ye. Fer what ye did in the courtyard today." His thumb brushed against her pulse point. "Me people are talkin' about ye. Sayin' ye're the best thing that's happened tae Barra in years."
Heat flooded Ada's face. "They're just bein' kind."
"They're bein' honest." Magnus released her wrist. "Ye're good fer them."
Ada didn't know what to say to that. So, she moved to the basin, began washing her hands, buying herself time to think.
Behind her, she heard Magnus stand, heard him roll his shoulders. Then heard him wince.
Ada turned. "What's wrong?"
"Naethin'. Just stiff."
"Let me see."
"Ada, I'm fine."
"Let. Me. See." Ada crossed back to him, moved behind him. "Roll yer shoulders again."
Magnus obeyed. Ada watched the way his muscles moved, or didn't move properly. His left side was tight, favoring the injured shoulder. But his neck...
"Tilt yer head tae the left," she said.
Magnus did. Winced again.
"And tae the right."
Another wince.
Ada pressed her fingers gently against the base of his skull, felt the knots there. "How long has yer neck been hurtin'?"
"A few days."
"Since the fire?"
"Maybe before."
Ada's hands stilled. "Because ye dinnae sleep comfortably?"
Magnus didn't answer, which was answer enough.
"Ye're hurtin' yerself," Ada said quietly. "Sleepin' like that, dressed and all tae one side, with just a blanket tae cover ye. Yer neck's tied in knots, and yer back probably isnae much better."
"I've slept in worse—"
"Dinnae say ye've slept in worse places.
I ken ye have. But ye dinnae need tae sleep like that anymore.
There's a perfectly good bed right here.
" Ada moved around to face him. "We're both exhausted.
We've both been workin' ourselves tae death the past few days.
And ye're sleepin' on the edge with yer boots on because, because what?
Because ye think I'm too delicate tae share a bed without somethin' happenin'? "
Magnus's jaw tightened. "I told ye I wouldnae force ye intae anythin'. I meant it."
"I ken that. But ye're torturin' yerself fer nay reason." Ada took a breath. "We could just... really share the bed. Ye can wear yer night clothes and stay on yer side and we both get some sleep.”
"Ada."
"I trust ye, Magnus." The words came out stronger than she'd intended. "I trust ye nae tae force me. And I feel terrible that ye're in pain because ye're tryin' tae protect me from somethin' I'm nae even afraid of anymore."
Magnus stared at her. "Ye're sure?"
"Aye. I'm sure."
For a long moment, he didn't move. Then he nodded once. "All right."
They prepared for bed in awkward silence. Ada changed into her night shift behind the privacy screen, then climbed under the blankets. Magnus blew out most of the candles, leaving just one burning on the far table. Then he lay down as far from her as the bed allowed.
For days now, he had kept his distance — never letting his body linger too close to hers, never allowing his hands to wander even when the tension between them crackled like a living thing. Part of her understood it. Part of her told herself it was respect, caution, restraint.
But another part of her — the quieter, more vulnerable one — whispered that perhaps it was something else entirely.
Perhaps he simply did not want her.
"Better?" Ada asked.
"Aye."
"Liar. Ye're still stiff as a board."
"I'll be fine."
Ada sighed. "At least turn on yer side. Sleepin' on yer back will make yer neck worse."
Magnus shifted, turning away from her. The bed was large enough that they weren't touching, but Ada could feel his presence—the warmth of him, the steady sound of his breathing.
"Goodnight, Ada."
"Goodnight."
Ada closed her eyes. Tried to relax. But she was acutely aware of Magnus lying just inches away. Could feel the tension radiating from him even with the distance between them.
It was ridiculous. They were married. They'd already shared a bed. And yet they were both lying there like strangers afraid to acknowledge each other's existence.
Eventually, exhaustion won. Ada felt herself drifting, her muscles loosening, her breathing evening out.
The tower room was cold.
Ada pressed herself against the stone wall, trying to make herself smaller, invisible. Her father's footsteps echoed on the stairs—heavy, purposeful, coming closer.
"Ada." His voice was pleasant. Too pleasant. "I ken ye're up here. There's nay point hidin'."
She didn't answer. Couldn't answer. Fear had stolen her voice.
The door opened. Her father filled the doorway—tall, imposing, his face cast in shadow. "There ye are. I've been lookin' fer ye."
"Please," Ada managed. "I dinnae want tae marry him. Please dinnae make me marry him."
"Ye'll dae as ye're told." Her father moved closer. "Ye're me daughter. Me property. And I'll use ye however I see fit."
"Nay."
His hand closed around her throat. "Ye'll marry who I say. Live where I say. Dae what I say. Because that's what daughters are fer, Ada. Tae be used."
She couldn't breathe. Couldn't scream. His grip tightened.
"Ada! Ada, wake up!"
Ada jerked awake with a gasp, her hands flying up to her throat. Strong arms caught her, held her steady.
"Ye're all right. Ye're safe. It was just a dream." Magnus's voice, low and urgent. "Breathe, Ada. Just breathe."
Ada gulped air, her heart hammering so hard it hurt. The tower was gone. Her father was gone. She was in Magnus's chamber—their chamber—and Magnus was holding her, one hand cupping the back of her head, the other wrapped around her waist.
"I'm sorry," she managed. "I didnae mean tae scare ye."
"Dinnae apologize. Ye had a nightmare." Magnus's thumb stroked gently against her hair. "Are ye all right?"
"Aye. I—aye." But she was shaking. Couldn't seem to stop shaking.
Magnus pulled her closer, tucked her head under his chin. "Talk tae me. What did ye dream about?"
Ada closed her eyes. She should pull away. Should put distance between them. But his arms felt safe, solid, and she was so tired of being brave all the time.
"Me faither," she whispered. "The tower he locked me in. After I ran away."
Magnus's arms tightened fractionally. "Tell me."
So, she did.
The words came haltingly at first, then faster.
She told him about running away after overhearing her father's plans to marry her off.
About surviving for months by hiding among healers and widows, always moving, always afraid.
About the festival at Arisaig where his men had finally caught up to her.
"That's why I kissed ye," Ada said, her voice muffled against his chest. "Because I was desperate.
Because ye looked strong enough tae protect me, and I had nay one else tae turn tae.
I kent it was wrong. I kent ye'd have every right tae be angry.
But I was so scared, and—" Her voice broke.
"And it didnae even work. They found me three days later anyway. "
"What did they dae tae ye?" Magnus's voice was carefully controlled.
"Dragged me back. Threw me at me faither's feet.
He didnae even look at me. Just told his men tae lock me in the tower until he decided what tae dae with me.
He had a healer check if I was still… untouched.
And then left me there." Ada's hands clenched in Magnus's shirt.
"I was in the tower fer three months. Nay visitors, nay sunlight.
Just bread and water and the knowledge that I'd failed.
That I'd always be his property, nay matter how hard I tried tae escape. "
"And then the Pact."
"Aye. The king issued his decree, and me faither saw his opportunity. Nay one wanted tae give their daughters tae savage Norse lairds, nay offense."
"None taken."
"But me faither didnae care about me wellbeing.
He saw a chance tae prove his loyalty tae the Crown and rid himself of a troublesome daughter in one move.
" Ada lifted her head to look at Magnus.
"So he offered me up. And I thought—I thought I was bein' sent tae me death.
That ye'd be cruel, or violent, or that ye really had murdered yer first wife and I'd be next. "
Magnus's expression was unreadable. "And now?"
"Now I ken ye didnae murder her. And ye're nae cruel. Ye're just—" Ada searched for the right word. "Guarded. Careful. Afraid tae trust anyone because someone broke that trust before."
"Ye sound very certain about that."
"Because I am." Ada's hand came up to rest against his chest, over his heart.
"Ye've been waitin' fer me tae betray ye since the moment I arrived.
Waitin' fer me tae prove I'm like her, like whoever hurt ye before.
But I'm nae, Magnus. I'm just a woman who made a desperate choice a year ago, and now I'm tryin' tae make the best of an impossible situation. "
Magnus was quiet for a long moment. His hand had stilled in her hair, but he hadn't pulled away.
"When ye kissed me at the festival," he said finally, "that was really the first time ye'd ever kissed anyone?"
"Aye."
"There werenae other men ye used the same way? Other times ye did the same thing?"
"Nay. Just ye." Ada's voice was firm. "I swear it, Magnus. Ye're the only man I've ever kissed. The only man I've ever—" She stopped, her face heating. "The only man I've ever wanted tae kiss."
Magnus's breath caught. "Ada."
"I ken ye dinnae trust easily. I ken ye have reasons fer that.
But I need ye tae believe me about this, at least. I dinnae use men and discard them.
I'm nae that kind of person." Ada met his gaze directly.
"I was desperate that day at the festival.
Terrified. So, I took a chance. And then I spent every day fer the next year wishin' I could find ye again.
Wishin' I could explain. Wishin'—" She stopped.
"Wishin' I could thank ye properly fer helpin' me, even if ye didnae ken ye were helpin' me. "
Magnus's hand moved from her hair to cup her face. His thumb brushed across her cheekbone. "Ye really spent a year thinkin' about me?"
"Aye. Did ye—" Ada's voice dropped to barely a whisper. "Did ye ever think about me?"
"Every damn day." Magnus's voice was rough. "I told meself I was just curious. Wonderin' what had happened tae ye. Whether ye'd escaped. But it was more than that." His thumb traced her jaw. "I wanted tae find ye. Wanted tae ken yer name. Wanted…"
He stopped. Shook his head.
"Wanted what?" Ada prompted.
"Tae protect ye. Tae make sure ye were safe. Even though I didnae ken ye, even though ye'd used me and disappeared, I couldnae stop worryin' about what had happened tae ye." Magnus's expression turned rueful. "Torvald said I was obsessed. He wasnae wrong."
Ada's heart hammered against her ribs. "And now? Now that ye ken who I am? Now that ye're stuck with me whether ye want tae be or nae?"
"Now—" Magnus pulled her closer, until there was nae space between them at all. "Now I'm beginnin' tae think maybe gettin' stuck with ye isnae the worst thing that's ever happened tae me."
Ada smiled despite the tears still clinging to her lashes. "That's possibly the least romantic thing anyone's ever said tae me."
"I'm nae a romantic man."
"I've noticed."
"But I am—" Magnus hesitated. "I am glad ye're here. Glad ye're me wife. Even if it took a king's decree and a year of worryin' tae make it happen."
"So ye believe me? About the festival? About everythin'?"
"Aye." Magnus's voice was quiet but certain. "I believe ye."
Ada felt something tight in her chest finally loosen. "Thank ye."
"Fer what?"
"Fer listenin'. Fer nae judgin'. Fer holdin' me when I was scared."
"Ye're me wife. That's what husbands dae." Magnus shifted, pulling her down so they were both lying on their sides, facing each other. "Now get some sleep. Ye're exhausted."
"So are ye."
"Aye, well. At least me neck daesnae hurt anymore."
Ada laughed softly. "Because ye're finally sleepin' properly."
"Because I have ye here tae distract me from the pain."
The words hung between them, casual on the surface, but weighted with something deeper.
Ada settled against him, her head tucked under his chin, his arms wrapped around her. The blankets were tangled between them, but she could feel his warmth anyway.
"Magnus?" she whispered.
"Aye?"
"Thank ye. Fe savin' me. Both times."
His arms tightened around her. "Go tae sleep, Ada."
She did. Magnus was there. Holding her. Keeping her safe.