The harbinger's arms were wrapped around her, holding her tightly against his wide chest.

When Selena pulled back, her eyes full of tears, she saw that Piper had diplomatically slipped out of the room.

Ragnar was looking at her in a way that broke her heart while mending it at the same time.

Why? Why did we choose to hurt each other when we can choose not to?

Ragnar didn't try to hold on to her as Selena took a few steps back, crossing her arms over her chest and looking down.

It was hard to describe how much she wanted to be back in her fated's embrace, but for the moment, Selena couldn't bear it.

"Were –" she began to ask before hesitating, "Were you going to do it? Were you going to destroy the ship? With or without me?"

The fact that Ragnar took a long moment before replying hurt at first, but in truth Selena was comforted by the harbinger actually considering his words. It showed he was no longer ruled by his fury – and that he respected her enough to tell her the truth.

"Not with you," Ragnar said.

"So Kathleen was right," Selena said quietly, still not looking at him. "Everything she did, every little thing she set in motion to make sure I was here was right."

"How so?" the harbinger asked.

Selena could hear the dark undertone in his voice when Kathleen was the topic.

"She tricked me," Selena admitted. "From the moment I got to Luminos, she was trying to make sure I was aboard when the ship took off. Like a human shield. She was certain that you would show mercy if she had me and you just confirmed it."

Unable to resist, Selena looked up. Ragnar was regarding her seriously, his stormy eyes fixed on her.

"She was correct," he said. "I called off the attack because of you."

Selena nodded, looking away again. She thought of Luminos and Nayanors. Of the terrible world that bred and raised men with terrible practicality and steel hearts. Even if they were capable of love and kindness, they were Nayanors at the end of the day.

"But not in the way Kathleen thought," Ragnar finished.

Selena raised her eyes to him.

The harbinger seemed to search for words. He looked around in the engine room with a judging gaze.

"You asked me what I would have done if you hadn't been here," he said. "And I can honestly say I don't know. If you had never come to my life... there is really no telling. This ship had the potential to destroy my species. If there had been a handful of females, it's possible I would have destroyed it."

Ragnar's eyes flashed.

"But not with you," he continued. "Not after finding you. Today, there was no possible future where I would have brought such sadness to you. Mjorn and Kathleen did their best to convince me it was a choice – the only choice – but it was never an option."

The harbinger took a step closer to her and Selena didn't back away.

"You will not get me to say I wouldn't protect Luminos," Ragnar finished, "but nothing is worth losing you."

Selena stared.

Her fingers were curled around the fabric of her coat as she stood, looking at her fated, trying to determine how big of a mistake she was about to make.

Then she threw all caution and considerations to the wind. Throwing her arms around him, Selena pressed herself against him. Ragnar's deep sigh when he held her closer spread warmth into every inch of her body.

They stayed like that for a long minute. There were a thousand words to say, so much to explain, but neither one of them wanted to get to that. Selena was quietly hoping that the unsaid silence spoke enough.

"When we get back to Luminos," she said, pulling back again, "what will happen to me? And the others?"

Ragnar frowned.

"It's going to be an interesting long night," he said. "You wouldn't believe how fast word travels around a fortress."

A soft smile crept on Selena's lips. It was hard to imagine Nayanors gossiping.

Seeing that, Ragnar grinned.

"You don't have to worry about them," he said, his deep voice firm and sure. "I will deal with that."

"The women here," Selena hastened to explain, "I think most of them are here against their will. They shouldn't be punished –"

"They won't be," Ragnar cut in. "I will make sure someone who isn't like Mjorn determines which of them were in on the plan and who wasn't."

Selena sighed, relieved. She noticed her hand was in Ragnar's big palm. It felt nice, touching him, even if it was just a little.

"I didn't want to go," she then said quietly. "I... I was so afraid that it was going to be the only chance I ever got that I didn't consider what I stood to lose."

When Ragnar didn't reply, Selena went on.

"I want to be with you," she said, holding tighter onto his hand. "If it has to be Luminos and the long nights and living with Nayanors, so be it. I just want you. I needed to face the other choice to realize that."

Ragnar lifted her chin to make her look at him and Selena saw the smile on his lips.

"Unfortunately, it does," he admitted with a nod. "What you just said – that is all that matters to me. You are everything that matters to me and as long as I have you I will make the rest of it work."

"Okay, then," Selena said. "I believe you. Luminos will be fine."

Ragnar chuckled softly.

"I will make it much, much better than fine if you will let me," he said.

The harbinger leaned down to capture her lips in a kiss and in that moment, the last of Selena's fears faded away.

It wasn't okay, not yet. There was a lot to be fixed between them. For the time being, having faith in the future was enough.