frowned. “Is your defender so cruel that he would cast you out merely because you displeased me?”
God, she hoped not. Daffyd had appeared perfect—strong, handsome, and compassionate. She couldn’t have imagined a better husband or father.
As much as she didn’t want to believe the crazy tale the Fates told her, she also wanted to believe it. She didn’t want to be alone. She didn’t want to raise her children by herself. She needed help, especially now when she knew she carried twins. How would she ever manage without someone to help her?
You will never be alone, Elle. He will stay by your side and care for you. He loves you even now, though he doesn’t realize it.
It was Urd’s voice in her head again.
Do you know where he is at this moment? It sounded as though something pleased her greatly.
Giving a slight shake of her head, Elle replied, I have no idea where he could be. I don’t remember much about the inside of this place. I was in too much pain to care.
At this moment, he is on down the hall seeing to the renovation of the nursery—his nursery. He smiles again.
Reaching out, Elle took the young woman’s hand. “Please tell me your name. You have not displeased me. In fact, I would like to ask Daffyd if it’s possible to keep you on to help me, at least until I go home.”
The girl’s eyes widened and she shook her head. “You can’t go home. Please. He needs you.”
“You don’t understand.” Elle closed her eyes with a sigh. “I can’t stay here forever. As much as I would love to stay in this castle with nice people like you caring for me, I know I must go home, eventually.”
Tears streamed down the girl’s face. “But—but if you go, he’ll stop smiling again.” Turning, she looked toward the door. “He had been unhappy. For as long as I can remember, for as long as my mother and her mother can remember, the defender never smiled unless it was at a child, and even then, a person could tell he was not happy. He is so lonely, My Lady. Please stay. Stay and keep his shadows away.”
Elle stared at the girl, her mouth open. “I—I can’t promise you that.” How could she? She didn’t even know the man. It didn’t matter that the Fates decreed that she was his long-lost mate. She didn’t know him, she didn’t know this world and, if she were honest with herself, this entire situation scared the hell out of her.
“At least stay for a while. Get to know him. See him smile. Watch him put so many others before his own needs. You are the one person, the one thing he will ever want for himself, yet he will never force you to stay.” She laced her fingers together in front of her chest. “Please say you’ll stay for at least a little while.”
“Okay, okay.” Elle put her hands on her hips with a smile. “I’ll stay for a little while. I’ll try to get to know him, but I’m not making any promises.”
“Give him a chance, My Lady. That’s all I ask. Give him a chance.”
Yes, Elle. Give him a chance. The man has put other’s lives before his own for nearly millennia. Don’t you think he deserves a shot at happiness?
Of course he did. Everyone deserved a happy life as long as what made them happy didn’t interfere with the happiness of others. Her parents brought her up that way. As long as what she did harmed no one else, she could do as she pleased. It didn’t mean she didn’t live her life without rules, though.
“I will,” Elle said as she smiled at the girl. “If you tell me your name, I’ll stay for a little while.”
Chapter Eight
Alone in the nursery, Daffyd walked around the large room. He’d already had the men take his childhood bed out and put it into storage in the undercroft. While there, they would clean the cradles and bring them up. There were four cradles altogether. One defender, he believed it was his great-great grandfather, had sired a set of quadruplets. Not one of his ancestors since had a multiple birth. While
God, she hoped not. Daffyd had appeared perfect—strong, handsome, and compassionate. She couldn’t have imagined a better husband or father.
As much as she didn’t want to believe the crazy tale the Fates told her, she also wanted to believe it. She didn’t want to be alone. She didn’t want to raise her children by herself. She needed help, especially now when she knew she carried twins. How would she ever manage without someone to help her?
You will never be alone, Elle. He will stay by your side and care for you. He loves you even now, though he doesn’t realize it.
It was Urd’s voice in her head again.
Do you know where he is at this moment? It sounded as though something pleased her greatly.
Giving a slight shake of her head, Elle replied, I have no idea where he could be. I don’t remember much about the inside of this place. I was in too much pain to care.
At this moment, he is on down the hall seeing to the renovation of the nursery—his nursery. He smiles again.
Reaching out, Elle took the young woman’s hand. “Please tell me your name. You have not displeased me. In fact, I would like to ask Daffyd if it’s possible to keep you on to help me, at least until I go home.”
The girl’s eyes widened and she shook her head. “You can’t go home. Please. He needs you.”
“You don’t understand.” Elle closed her eyes with a sigh. “I can’t stay here forever. As much as I would love to stay in this castle with nice people like you caring for me, I know I must go home, eventually.”
Tears streamed down the girl’s face. “But—but if you go, he’ll stop smiling again.” Turning, she looked toward the door. “He had been unhappy. For as long as I can remember, for as long as my mother and her mother can remember, the defender never smiled unless it was at a child, and even then, a person could tell he was not happy. He is so lonely, My Lady. Please stay. Stay and keep his shadows away.”
Elle stared at the girl, her mouth open. “I—I can’t promise you that.” How could she? She didn’t even know the man. It didn’t matter that the Fates decreed that she was his long-lost mate. She didn’t know him, she didn’t know this world and, if she were honest with herself, this entire situation scared the hell out of her.
“At least stay for a while. Get to know him. See him smile. Watch him put so many others before his own needs. You are the one person, the one thing he will ever want for himself, yet he will never force you to stay.” She laced her fingers together in front of her chest. “Please say you’ll stay for at least a little while.”
“Okay, okay.” Elle put her hands on her hips with a smile. “I’ll stay for a little while. I’ll try to get to know him, but I’m not making any promises.”
“Give him a chance, My Lady. That’s all I ask. Give him a chance.”
Yes, Elle. Give him a chance. The man has put other’s lives before his own for nearly millennia. Don’t you think he deserves a shot at happiness?
Of course he did. Everyone deserved a happy life as long as what made them happy didn’t interfere with the happiness of others. Her parents brought her up that way. As long as what she did harmed no one else, she could do as she pleased. It didn’t mean she didn’t live her life without rules, though.
“I will,” Elle said as she smiled at the girl. “If you tell me your name, I’ll stay for a little while.”
Chapter Eight
Alone in the nursery, Daffyd walked around the large room. He’d already had the men take his childhood bed out and put it into storage in the undercroft. While there, they would clean the cradles and bring them up. There were four cradles altogether. One defender, he believed it was his great-great grandfather, had sired a set of quadruplets. Not one of his ancestors since had a multiple birth. While
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