Page 49 of A Winter Awakening

She stared straight ahead. “So why did you do it? Why did you run away on our wedding day? Why did you come to this place?” She gestured to the village. “Was it because you loved the oread we chased off?”

“No!” Gael shook his head. “I only met him after I ran away.”

Alisa turned to him. “Then why? Why do that to me?” Her eyes brimmed with the hurt he’d caused.

Gael swallowed. He kicked at the snow by his feet.

He’d have to tell her the truth. What else could he do? “A few days before our marriage, I realised that I didn’t love you as a husband should love his wife.” Gael hesitated. He looked to Orteo.I never loved you like I love Orteo.But he didn’t say that. He didn’t think it would help. “I kept thinking about us. Us married. Us in bed together. I realised I only cared for you as a friend. As a sister. The idea of marriage…it terrified me.”

She sighed, her posture so perfect. As always. “You really are a complete bumble-head. I always loved you too. But as a friend. My best and dearest friend. And I always figured that I should marry, so why not marry my best friend?” She gave him a look. “I didn’t relish the idea of bedding you. But I figured we’d work that out.”

She shook her head. “Why didn’t you just tell me how you felt? I would have understood.”

“I didn’t want to hurt you,” he said, voice small.

Alisa scoffed. “So you ran away and left me on my wedding day? Left me to face our families and guests?”

“It wasn’t planned,” Gael said. “I’m truly sorry.”

“You should be.”

“If it makes you feel better, I got lost on Daisy, sprained my ankle terribly”—he pointed to the crutch by the bench—“and then sat freezing in a cave, unable to start a fire. I needed to be rescued.”

Alisa’s lip twitched. “That does make me feel a little better.” She frowned. “As long as you aren’t permanently injured.”

“No. I’ll make a full recovery.”

“Well then, I think you got what you deserved,” she said, voice clipped.

A man with a reindeer walked through the village.

“I’m still angry at you. You shouldn’t have done that,” Alisa said. “But I do understand. I just wished you talked to me.”

“I know. I was a coward,” Gael said.

“Yes,” Alisa said. “But I suppose I forgive you.”

“Really? Truly?” Gael leaned towards her. “I don’t deserve it.”

“No, you don’t,” she said. “But you always look so pathetic when you’ve done wrong.” Her lips curled. “And I could never stay mad at you.”

“And you are all right?” Gael asked. “I didn’t hurt you?”

“No. You hurt me.” She touched his hand. “And you embarrassed me greatly. But I still forgive you.”

“Just like that?” Gael still couldn’t believe it.

Alisa’s gaze drifted to Gracie. She stood a short distance away, glaring at Gael. As much as Gael adored his sister, she’d always terrified him when she was angry.

“If you must know, it was probably for the best you left,” Alisa said. “You behaved very badly, and that is the truth. There is no excuse. But you weren’t the only one who has been oblivious.”

“What do you mean?” Gael frowned.

“I always saw you as my best friend and brother, and Gracie…”

“Gracie what?”

Alisa gave him a pointed look. Gael knew she was trying to tell him something, but he couldn’t quite work it out.