Page 97 of The Champion

“It’ll take more than him to kill me.”

She snorted at that. “Boastful men. Braggarts. It’s all any of your kind are and I’ve had enough of it. If you won’t kill Stryder, I will lest they tire of waiting and come to reclaim us. His life is not worth whatever freedom I do have.”

Ganymede gave her a hard, meaningful stare. “I won’t let you kill him.”

“Nay?” she asked in disbelief. “And if I tell him who you are?”

“I will see you dead first.”

“Rowena?”

Rowena paused at the deep timbered voice that sent a shiver down her spine. It was one she hadn’t expected to hear addressing her ever again.

Turning about slowly, she faced Damien St. Cyr. “My lord.” She curtsied before him.

“There’s no need to be so formal, my lady. Or cold. I didn’t kill your knight, after all.”

There was something different about Damien this afternoon. Something more relaxed and calm.

Like Stryder, he’d changed out of his armor. Now he wore a gray tunic with a crimson and gold surcoat and black hose beneath his voluminous black cloak.

“It seems God has indeed judged him innocent.”

She thought she detected a note of bitterness in Damien’s voice. “I hope you weren’t hurt much, my lord.”

“Only my pride, which has been wounded so often that I am sure it will heal from this, too.” He bowed to her. “I’ll take my leave of you, my lady. I only wanted to apologize once more for my curt, unchivalrous behavior toward you yesterday when you came to see me.”

“Think nothing of it, my lord.”

“Damien,” he said, his voice seductive. “Please, call me Damien.”

Rowena curtsied and inclined her head to him.

Damien tsked at her. “You are suspicious of me?”

“Do you blame me?”

He laughed at that. A deep, hypnotic sound. “And you don’t even try to deny it.”

“Should I?”

“Most do. I have to say I find your honesty refreshing.” She had a distinct feeling he was smiling at her, and it truly bothered her that she could see no hint of his face.

“Good day, my lady. May it lay treasures at your feet.”

She frowned as he walked off and left her standing in the middle of the hall.

She didn’t move until she heard another voice just behind her.

“Whatever did he want with you?” Zenobia moved forward to stand by Rowena’s side.

The two of them watched as Damien vanished through the door, headed somewhere outside the castle.

“He apologized.” Rowena was still unable to believe he had done such. It seemed completely out of character for him.

“For?”

“Being rude to me yesterday when I asked him not to fight Stryder.”