Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
"I'll be back before midday."
Ada called the words over her shoulder to Isla, who was tidying their chamber. She had to see Mairi—wanted to ask if there was anything else she could do to help with the recovering villagers, and maybe learn more about treating burns since they were rather common around the keep.
The morning was crisp and clear, unusual for Barra. Ada pulled her cloak tighter as she crossed the courtyard, heading toward the healer's chambers.
She'd nearly reached them when she heard it. The unmistakable clash of practice swords, followed by Magnus's voice shouting instructions.
The training yard.
Ada knew she should keep walking. Should go straight to Mairi's chambers like she'd planned. But her feet carried her toward the sound instead, drawn by curiosity and something else she didn't want to examine too closely.
She stopped at the edge of the yard.
Magnus was there, in the center of the packed earth, fighting with Torvald. But unlike when he'd been teaching the boys, now he wore no shirt—just his trews and boots, his chest bare and gleaming with sweat despite the cold.
Ada's breath caught.
She'd felt his body before—when she'd tended his wounds, when he'd held her the night before.
But seeing him like that was different. He was all lean muscle and controlled power, his tattoos stark against tanned skin.
A serpent wound around his left arm, Norse runes she couldn't read marked his ribs, and his shoulders—
Ada forced herself to breathe.
Magnus moved like water, fluid, graceful, deadly. Torvald was good, but Magnus was better. He deflected every strike, countered with brutal efficiency, his movements so fast Ada could barely track them.
"Ye're gettin' slow," Magnus said, circling. "What's wrong? Wife keepin' ye up at night?"
"At least I have a wife who wants tae keep me up at night." Torvald grinned, swinging his blade. "Unlike some people."
Magnus's jaw tightened. He struck faster, forcing Torvald back three steps. "Shut up."
"Touchy subject, is it?"
"I said shut up."
They clashed again, wood striking wood with sharp cracks. Magnus's muscles flexed with each movement, sweat running down his spine, his hair falling loose from its tie.
Ada couldn't look away.
She knew it was improper, standing there watching her husband fight half-naked like some lovesick girl. But her feet wouldn't move, and her eyes wouldn't stop tracking the way his body moved, the way his shoulders rolled when he struck, the way—
Magnus's gaze found hers across the yard.
He froze mid-strike. Torvald's blade tapped his ribs, a killing blow if they'd been using real swords.
"Dead," Torvald announced cheerfully. Then he followed Magnus's gaze and saw Ada. "Ah. That explains it."
Magnus lowered his practice sword slowly. "Ada."
Her face was on fire. "I was just… I was going tae see Mairi. I dinnae mean tae distract ye. I'll go now."
"Dinnae." Magnus crossed to where she stood, his movements deliberately slow. Like he was stalking prey. "Ye were watchin' me fight."
"I wasnae. I mean, I was just passin' by."
"Ye were watchin'." He stopped directly in front of her, close enough that she could see the sweat beading on his chest, could smell leather and salt and something distinctly him. "Did ye like what ye saw?"
Ada's mouth went dry. "Well, ye're very skilled."
"At fightin'?"
"Aye. At fightin'."
"Just at fightin'?" Magnus's mouth twitched. "Because ye cannae seem to look me in the eye."
"That's because ye're nae wearin' a shirt!"
"Daes that bother ye?"
"Nay! I mean it's nae proper."
"We're married. I can be as improper as I want." Magnus stepped closer. "In fact, ye've seen me without a shirt before. When ye tended me wounds. Why is this different?"
Because then she'd been focused on healing him. On being professional and competent and not thinking about the way his skin felt under her fingers or the way his muscles shifted when he moved.
"It's nae different," Ada managed.
"Liar." Magnus reached out, tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered against her cheek. "Ye're blushin' so hard I could warm me hands on yer face."
"Magnus."
"Were ye thinkin' improper thoughts, wife? Watchin' me fight?" His voice dropped lower. "Because I'd be happy tae give ye a private demonstration. Without Torvald's runnin' commentary."
Behind him, Torvald laughed. "I'm standin' right here!"
"Then leave," Magnus said without looking away from Ada.
"Gladly. This is gettin' uncomfortable tae watch." Torvald's footsteps retreated.
They were alone now. Just Ada and Magnus and the charged air between them.
"I really should go," Ada said weakly.
"Should ye?" Magnus's thumb traced her jaw. "Or dae ye want tae stay and keep watchin' me?"
"Ye're insufferable."
"Ye like it."
"I dinnae."
"Ye dae" Magnus leaned in, his mouth close to her ear. "Ye like it when I tease ye. When I make ye blush. When I stand too close and make ye forget what ye were goin' tae say."
Ada shivered. "Stop."
"What were ye goin' tae dae today, Ada? Before ye got distracted watchin' me?"
"Mairi. I was goin' tae see Mairi."
"Then ye should go." Magnus pulled back slightly, his eyes dark and amused. "Before I keep ye here any longer."
Ada fled.
She heard his laughter following her across the courtyard, warm and genuine and completely unfair.
Ada's face was still burning when she finally stopped to catch her breath.
God. She'd just stood there staring at him like some empty-headed girl. And he'd known. Had teased her mercilessly, standing there half-naked and smug.
And she'd liked it.
Liked the way he'd looked at her. Liked the heat in his voice. Liked knowing that he knew exactly what he was doing to her.
Ada pressed her hands to her cheeks, trying to cool them.
This was ridiculous. She was a grown woman. A married woman. She shouldn't be acting like a blushing maiden just because her husband had a nice chest and knew how to use his words to.
Movement caught her eye.
Ada turned. There—near the far wall of the courtyard—Donnan. He was moving quickly, glancing over his shoulder, clearly trying not to be seen.
Ada's embarrassment vanished, replaced by suspicion.
What was he doing? Where was he going?
She followed at a distance, keeping to the shadows. Donnan crossed the courtyard, slipped through the gate that led to the outer grounds. Ada hesitated. If she followed him out there, he might see her. Might realize she was watching.
But if she didn't follow, she'd never know what he was up to.
Ada made her decision. She moved toward the gate, keeping her steps quiet.
Donnan disappeared around the far wall, heading toward the cliffs. Away from the keep. Toward nothing but rocks and sea.
Ada stopped. If she followed him further, she'd definitely be seen. The path along the cliffs was too exposed, too narrow.
Damn.
She needed to tell Magnus that Donnan was sneaking around, going places he had no reason to be.
Ada turned back toward the keep. She'd find Magnus, tell him what she'd seen.
Their chamber. She could wait for him there. He'd come back eventually to bathe and change after training.
Ada climbed the stairs to the east tower, her mind already composing what she'd say.
I saw Donnan sneaking around. I tried tae follow him but lost him near the cliffs. I think he's up tae something.
She pushed open the door to their chamber, and stopped dead.
Magnus stood in the center of the room, completely naked, water sluicing down his body from the bath he'd clearly just stepped out of. He froze when he saw her, one hand reaching for a towel.
"Ada."
"I'm sorry! I dinnae ken ye were bathin’. I thought ye'd still be…" Ada spun around, presenting her back. "I'll leave."
"Ye dinnae have tae leave. It's yer chamber too." The sound of fabric rustling. "Just give me a moment tae dress up."
But Ada couldn't help herself. She glanced over her shoulder.
Magnus had wrapped the towel around his waist, but his chest was still bare, still dripping water.
Their eyes met.
The air between them went thick. Charged.
"Ye're starin' again," Magnus said quietly.
"I came tae tell ye somethin'."
Magnus moved closer and stopped directly in front of her. Close enough that she could see water droplets clinging tae his collarbones.
Magnus's hand came up to cup her face. "I'm really interested in why ye're in our chamber in the middle of the mornin'. Thought ye were goin' tae see Mairi."
"I was. But then I saw ye trainin', and then I saw something, and—" Ada stopped. Her face was heating again. "And I had tae tell ye."
Magnus's thumb brushed across her cheekbone.
"I've been thinkin' about that bet we made," Magnus said. "The one where I won because yer horse stumbled."
Ada blinked. "That was days ago."
"Aye. And I still havenae claimed me wish." Magnus's gaze dropped to her lips. "I ken what I want now."
Ada's breath caught. "What?"
"I want tae kiss ye."
The words hung between them. Simple. Direct. Devastating.
"We've already kissed," Ada managed. "At the weddin'."
"That was fer show. Fer witnesses." Magnus's hand slid to the back of her neck. "This would be fer us. Because I want tae. Because ye want me tae."
"I didnae say so."
"Dae ye want me tae, Ada?"
She should say no. Should remind him that they'd agreed to take things slowly, that she wasn't ready, that this was moving too fast.
But none of that was true.
"Aye," she whispered. "I want ye tae."
Magnus's mouth curved into a slow smile. Then he bent his head and kissed her.
It started gentle, just a press of lips, soft and questioning. Ada's hands came up to rest against his chest, feeling his heart hammering under her palms.
Then Magnus deepened the kiss, his mouth moving against hers with deliberate slowness. His tongue traced the seam of her lips, and Ada opened for him without thinking. The kiss turned hotter, hungrier. Magnus's arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him.
Ada could feel everything—the heat of his bare chest through her gown, the strength in his arms, the way he trembled slightly when she made a small sound in the back of her throat.
He wanted her. She could feel it in the tension of his body, in the way his hand tightened in her hair, in the way he kissed her like he'd been starving for it.
Magnus pulled back. His breathing was uneven, his eyes dark. "Ada."
"Why did ye stop?"
"Because if I dinnae stop now, I willnae be able tae stop at all." His voice was rough. "And I promised ye I wouldnae push."
"But ye want tae." It wasn't a question.
"God, aye. I want tae." Magnus's hand cupped her face. "But wantin' and daein' are two different things."
He stepped back, putting distance between them. Creating space, she didn't want.
"I need tae get dressed," he said. "And ye need tae go see Mairi before she thinks ye've forgotten about her."
"Magnus."
"Please, Ada. Just, give me a moment."
Ada nodded slowly. She could see the conflict on his face—desire warring with something else. Control, maybe. Or fear.
She left the chamber, closing the door softly behind her.
And tried very hard not to think about the fact that Magnus had kissed her like he was drowning and she was air.
But had still pulled away.
Still created distance.
Still seemed to think that wanting her was somehow wrong.
Magnus stood alone in the chamber, his hands braced against the table, his whole body shaking.
He'd kissed her. Had pulled her against him and kissed her like he'd been dying to do since the moment she'd walked down that aisle in her wedding gown.
And she'd kissed him back. Had melted into him, had made those soft sounds that drove him mad, had touched him like she wanted more.
But he couldn't give her more.
Because this was all wrong.
He shouldn't trust her. Shouldn't believe her story about the festival, about her father, about being desperate and alone. Freydis had told him convincing lies too. Had made him believe she loved him. Had played him for a fool.
What if Ada was doing the same thing?
What if this—her kindness to his people, her willingness to share his bed, her soft words about trust—what if it was all calculated? What if she was just better at lying than Freydis had been?
Magnus's hands clenched into fists.
But even as he thought it, he knew it wasn't true.
Ada wasn't Freydis. Wasn't manipulative or cruel or dishonest. She was exactly what she appeared to be—a woman trying to survive, trying to make the best of a situation neither of them had chosen.
And he was falling for her. Was already more than halfway gone, if he was honest with himself.
That terrified him more than any battle ever had.
Because if he let himself love her, truly love her, and she betrayed him the way Freydis had... He wouldn't survive it a second time.
Magnus grabbed a clean shirt, pulled it on with shaking hands.
He'd been a fool to kiss her. Had crossed a line he'd promised himself he wouldn't cross until he was certain. Until he knew beyond any doubt that she was trustworthy.
But God, the way she'd looked at him. The way she'd responded to his touch.
The way she'd whispered aye when he'd asked if she wanted him to kiss her.
Magnus closed his eyes. He was in so much trouble. And he had absolutely no idea how to get himself out of it.