Page 93 of The Champion

She only hoped the agony inside her ebbed eventually. Perhaps she might even one day find another to love...

Nay, there would never be another who could mean as much to her as Stryder did. But some things weren’t meant to be, and their relationship was one of them.

Stryder braced himself for the sudden coldness of his body as she withdrew from him. It was for the best, and yet, his soul itself cried out for him to hold her close.

Then he did the hardest thing he’d ever done in his life. He watched as she made her way out of his tent.

Stryder pressed his hand to his eyes and cursed beneath his breath. How had this happened? How had he allowed a mere slip of a termagant to slide into his well-guarded heart?

And yet, she wasn’t a shrew. If she were, she would never have conquered him so skillfully. She was merely a woman of great convictions. Bold, intelligent and determined. All traits he admired.

Now she was gone.

Pain the likes of which he’d never known consumed his heart.

“You have to be the greatest fool in all of Christendom,” Zenobia said as she entered his tent. “Nay, you are the greatest fool in all the world.”

Without uncovering his eyes, he growled at her. “Leave me be, Zen. I’ve no patience for you at present.”

“Good, for I have none for you either. Never have I suffered fools gladly.”

To his complete astonishment, she came over and slapped him across his good ribs.

Stryder grimaced at the unexpected pain and moved his arm so that he could glare up at her. “What are you doing?”

“Be grateful you’re injured. That alone keeps me from taking my sword and giving you the thrashing you deserve.”

He snorted at her threat. “‘Twould take more than you to do me harm.”

“Mayhap, but not with the anger I hold at present. How could you allow Rowena to leave here?”

His gut tightened at the thought, even though his head understood the why. “It’s for the best.”

She slapped his side again.

“Have you gone mad?”

“Nay, but methinks you have. You love that woman. So why are you pushing her away?”

“What do you know of it?”

She stood with her hands on her hips and her face showing every bit of her ire at him. “I know all of it as does Val, Swan, Nassir and Christian. There’s no great secret given the light that comes into your eyes at the mere mention of Rowena’s name. Never mind the way you watch her like a hungry wolf whenever she draws near you.”

“Bah! What foolishness you speak.”

She rolled her eyes at him, then said something in her language he didn’t quite understand.

“Did you call me a pig?”

“I called you a pig-headed boar.”

“Isn’t that redundant?”

She moved to slap him again, but this time he grabbed her hand before she made contact. Instead, she kicked her foot up under his cot.

“Ow!” he snapped as she kicked his buttocks.

“I love you like a brother, Stryder, but I swear there are times when I could strangle the very life out of you.”