FACING A STONEWALL

Astrid

A soft gasp fell from my lips as I looked up at Magnus' grim expression; his eyes narrowed to slits as he stared me down. "I think you missed your way back to the house," he muttered coldly, reaching up to pull down his hood.

A heavy silence descended on the whole bar when they saw who it was, and I would have reveled in the pride I felt in that moment if it wasn't so tainted by my fear.

He ran a hand through his hair as he approached the bartender. "You see that lady?" He asked in a soft, barely audible voice.

"Ye…yes, my lord," the frightened man stuttered, his eyes darting to me.

"You know she's my wife, right?" Magnus asked again, and the man gave a nervous jerk of his head in response.

"Why would you let her into a place like this? A place where the basic rules of morality do not apply?"

 My heart sank painfully at his words, puzzled by the directness of his statement. And although I could sense the undertone of concern and protectiveness behind his intention, it still stung that he would implicitly suggest his people should never grant me an audience. It felt like someone had slammed a door in my face.

"I'm so sorry, my lord," the bartender pleaded, his voice shaky with fear. "She didn't even drink a wee drop of alcohol; I made certain of that."

"That's not good enough," Magnus said to him.

"I think we should leave," I muttered firmly, ignoring the fear gnawing at my insides. "You are making a spectacle of us here."

Magnus let out a deep, mocking chuckle, the sound rich and attractive. "You are mated to me, love." He rasped softly, "You are going to make a spectacle of yourself wherever you go."

I blinked at him and swallowed hard before wrapping my arms around myself.

His eyes narrowed at the movement, and he moved closer, "Are you cold?"

I shook my head, but he still reached out and untangled my arms. Then, he encased my fingers between his palms, warming them. "I told you I'm not cold." I insisted, but he'd turned to look at the bartender again.

"I don't want you to ever allow her in here again without my permission."

His hold tightened around my hands as I tried to pull them away. "She's fairly new around here, and I wouldn't want your business shut down….are we clear?"

The other man nodded furiously.

"Use your words!" Magnus snapped and jumped briefly before saying, "I understood you perfectly, my lord."

"What was the point of all that?!" I snapped when he began steering me towards the door.

"We are going home," he said as if I didn't already know that.

"My…my lord," I began, and he slowed. "You'll call me Magnus."

"I'll call you whatever I want."

He halted and spun around to face me; his head tilted.

"Why would you say all that to him?" I asked.

He shrugged and folded his hands behind his back as he replied. "I was just making sure he understood what's at stake."

"You were implying that I would come here again and that…."

"Wouldn't you, though?" He cut in softly, the question taking me slightly aback.

He smirked at my silence as if to say, "There's the answer."

"You told him never to give me an audience!"

"I didn't say that," he pointed out.

"You implied it."

"Hmm." Was his only response.

I so badly wanted to slap the smug look off his handsome face.

"This is all your fault, you know?!" I thundered, then stepped away as he tried to reach for me.

"How is it my fault that you came to a pub?" He asked, his voice rising with irritation.

"If you were giving me some attention, none of this would have happened!"

"Why do you need my attention?" He queried; his brows furrowed in genuine confusion. "What would you do with it?"

I gasped in disbelief, my head moving from side to side in shock. "Are you being serious right now?"

He didn't reply.

"I left the castle because I was bored, Magnus!" He didn't flinch, and my lack of reaction increased my anger.

"I was so bored I was starting to hear things! I know two thousand nine hundred fifty-two tiles cover the living room floors!"

"Two thousand nine hundred and fifty-five," he corrected gently.

"I…I must have miscounted then."

His eyes held mine coldly as he reached to grab my hand. "Come on."

I had no other options but to follow along, and I felt hot tears pricking the corners of my eyes as he led me toward the gold-crusted carriage.

"Have you never had to be responsible for anyone other than yourself?" I began after he helped me inside and then climbed in after me.

"I'm much too upset to talk, Astrid." Came the bland reply.

My heart twisted painfully in my chest, but I couldn't keep my mouth shut.

"Why would you ask me anything about your attention?"

Silence.

And just when I was sure he wouldn't respond, he spoke. "I asked you a very valid question," he said before leaning over to mutter something to the coachman.

"You need to learn how to make do," he continued after settling back. The carriage began to move onwards to the castle.

"And how am I supposed to do that when I barely know anyone here?" I implored, feeling slightly ashamed at the neediness in my voice.

"You should be trying to make things easier for me," I continued. "It would make it easier for me to adapt."

He scoffed, and I turned to look at him, but he focused his eyes in front. "You don't need me, Astrid." He murmured. "And trust me, that's a good thing."

"Why are you being so mean to me, my lord?" I started a few moments later, my voice sounding a bit shaken from the movement of the carriage.

"I'm not being mean to you, and it's Magnus."

I ignored his correction and went on.

"You keep shutting me out, my lord, and when I try to find my fun, you get angry about it."

"Coming to a public drinking place where criminals and their lots camp out is hardly a way to have…fun."

I scoffed and looked away to my side of the window. "Don't tell me anything about fun; you barely even know what the word means," I murmured, trying to keep the tears away from my voice.

"It's not ladylike for you to be in a place like that," he said softly, and we fell silent.

"If you don't want me, you can return me to my family."

"You are my destiny, Astrid. I cannot ignore that no matter how much I want to."

His words stung, and I took a deep, inaudible breath to assuage the hurt he'd inflicted on me with that statement. "I wish I never met you."