And though it broke her heart, she knew she had no choice except to let him go now. He needed to marry another to erase the taint his mother had left with him. To prove to everyone that he was noble in blood as well as in spirit.
"You will make a fine husband, Speirr. She is lucky to have you."
"Don't," he said, holding her tighter. "I don't want to think of anyone else while I'm with you. Just hold me, Nyn. Let me pretend for one moment that I'm not my mother's son. Let me pretend that there's only you and I in the world and no one and nothing to ever separate us."
She clenched her eyes shut as pain assailed her.
How she wished it were true.
He pulled back to look down at her. He cupped her face tenderly. "You are the only warmth in my heart. The only sunshine my winter has ever known."
Oh, how she loved him like this. When he, the fierce, bold warrior-prince, dared to be the bard who lived in his heart. Only she knew this side of him. Only she had ever known he had the talent of a poet.
To the rest of the world he must always be fierce and strong. A fighter of unquestionable prowess and skill.
But it was his poet's heart she loved best.
"And you are my fire," she breathed. "And if you don't go off and meet with your uncle now, he'll extinguish you."
He cursed as he pulled away from her.
She watched him dress and helped lace him back into his armor. He was a prince. Not just in title, but in bearing and form. There had never been a more noble man.
After she was dressed, he pulled her into his arms and gave her one last scorching kiss. "Meet me tonight?"
She looked away. "If you wish it, Speirr. I will do anything you ask, but I don't think it will be fair to your new wife to meet you on your wedding night."
He flinched as if she'd slapped him. "You're right, Nyn. Most of all, it wouldn't be fair to you."
Sunshine moaned as she felt herself leaving Nynia and moving toward Speirr. They were still by the loch, only now it was him she felt. His emotions.
It was through his eyes she saw them.
Speirr was heartbroken as he watched Nynia step out of his embrace. The pain inside him was so intense that he feared it would cripple him.
He reached his hand out for her, knowing she was gone.
Lost.
Lost to him forever.
Just as his mother had been.
Just as his sisters and father were.
Gods, it was so unfair.
But then, life was never fair. Especially not to a man who had duties and responsibilities. A man who had to force respect for himself and his sister at the point of his sword.
His life had never been his own.
Turning away from her, he mounted his horse and rode to meet his aunt and uncle so that they could finalize the marriage between their clan and the Gaulish-Celt tribe that bordered them to the north.
This marriage would finally silence the tongues of the gossips and doomsayers who wanted someone else to be named heir.
Sunshine thrashed in her sleep as her dream shifted. She saw Talon later that day, standing between a beautiful woman in her early thirties and a man only a few years older. The woman had the same blond hair and blue eyes as Talon while the man was black haired and black eyed.
They stood in the middle of an old wood hall. The room was crowded with people who were strangers to the three of them. Everyone was dressed in fine plaids and wore gold jewelry.