A Midwinter Fantasy - Leanna Renee Hieber [93]
Nausea burned her throat and she pressed a hand over her mouth. She refused to believe a ring could do such a horrible thing, especially to her. She would leave.
“I’ll stay with you until you board the plane. If you feel even a hint of pain, come straight back.”
“You don’t think I’ll get away, do you?”
He gripped her hand so tightly it hurt. “Don’t go. Come back to my place, elskan mín.”
Her guardian angel’s presence caressed her mind, loving and persuasive. She closed her eyes, sinking into the feeling. She had loved the angel in her head for as long as she could remember. Now the sensation had subtly changed to include a zing of sexual awareness, and she was finally certain the feeling came from Vidar. But why hadn’t he spoken to her about the connection? Didn’t he want her to know? She had so many questions. She didn’t want to leave him, but she wouldn’t confine herself to Iceland like an animal pacing an imaginary fence too frightened to step outside. “I know you’ve got the resort to think about and that’s obviously a huge consideration, but if I get out, will you try to follow? I’ve only just found you. I don’t want to lose you.”
Vidar flopped back against the seat and shook his head. “Believe me, I’d leave the resort in a heartbeat if I thought I could be free of my father. I’d have no trouble selling the place. But I told you, I’ve tried to leave and I can’t. There’s no hope for me.”
The international airport was busy with tourists arriving for Christmas, many of them with red and white stickers on their bags proclaiming LIVE YOUR DREAMS THIS CHRISTMAS. Sonja saw one of the resort buttons on the ground with the same slogan. She kicked it out of her way, but Vidar bent to retrieve it and dropped it in his pocket. Vidar accompanied her in silence as she checked in and headed to security. She expected him to say good-bye at the security point, but he breezed through with nothing more than a few words to one of the officers.
“How did you do that?” she whispered when she caught up with him by a cafe.
“Glamour. I made them think that I’m dressed in a security uniform.”
“You’re wearing your fur.”
“You see through my glamour. We have an . . . an affinity.”
Why had he waited until she was about to leave to mention their link? Sonja wound her bag strap around her fingers. “I know we have an affinity. I sense you in my mind.” She glanced up to gauge his reaction.
He gave her an arrested glance. “I’ve always tried to be subtle, so you don’t notice.”
“Oh, I noticed. I feel as if I’ve been linked with you on some level my whole life.”
“Sonja, ástin mín.” Vidar halted, ignoring the people walking past them, and pulled her close. He curved a hand around her cheek. “I pledged to protect you when you were a baby, and I’ll always be there for you when you need me, even if we never meet again.”
Tears filled her eyes. His sadness whispered through her and suddenly she wasn’t sure she wanted to leave. Her job and the few possessions she had in London didn’t matter. What mattered was people. The only person she had in London was an aunt who’d never cared much for her—and she’d even started to wonder if Una really was her aunt.
She gripped the front of his coat. “Vidar . . .” She closed her eyes and pressed her face against his neck. Vidar had always been the most important person in her life, even when she had only known him as the guardian angel in her mind. But what would Odin do to her if she stayed?
Vidar kissed her hair, pressed his lips to her ear. “Although I want you to stay, if you are able to leave, you must go. Be free of my father.”
The announcer called her flight. Desperation tore through Sonja. She didn’t want to leave Vidar but she didn’t want to stay either. This was so unfair.
“Sonja.” Vidar eased her away from him. “Time to go.” He kissed her