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There was such blatant hostility in his voice that Terran decided he liked the man. He certainly had no problem expressing his dislikes. “We never married,” Terran growled. As if it were any of his concern.

“Lady Bria deserves better than you,” Lord Brent said.

Terran pinned Brent with a searing gaze. He was an older man here to obtain a rich dowry, no doubt. “Let any man who doubts the legitimacy of my claim challenge me in a joust.”

“No,” Delaney roared. “I forbid it. There will be no fighting at Castle Delaney. We will settle this like civilized men.”

“There is nothing to settle. The dowry was set by my grandfather and your father. I will adhere to the terms, as will you,” Terran ordered.

“That is impossible,” Delaney said. “I have just sealed Bria’s betrothal to Lord Garret.”

Surprise rocked Terran and his glare shot to Garret. Odella had killed herself out of love for him. Now the man was betrothed to his future bride! Will this man ever stop dogging my every step?

Terran’s gaze moved over the other suitors. By the displeased grumbling and the shocked looks on their faces, Terran knew Delaney had made a snap decision to thwart him. His stare slammed back to Delaney. He smashed his fist on the table. “She is mine. I will not permit such insolence!”

Amid the stares of disapproval, Terran quickly composed himself. He straightened and forced his voice to be calm, hiding the fierce rage burning within. “If you persist in being unreasonable, I will take it up with the king. I’m sure he’ll see it my way.” He turned and quickly left the room, fighting to keep his feelings inside. But as he entered a spiral stairway, his rage finally surfaced, burning like molten lava in his veins.

He pounded the wall once, hard. A savage growl tore loose from his throat.

God’s blood! Must Dysen haunt me all my life? No matter. Bria will be mine in the end. I will see to it.

“Knowles! Where are you?” a voice called from the hallway.

Terran stepped out of the stairway to confront the anger he heard in the man’s voice. His own fury flared upon seeing Dysen standing in the middle of the hallway, searching for him.

Garret spotted him and stalked toward him. His fists were clenched at his side, his shoulders bunched, his eyes narrowed to twin orbs of flame. He stopped just feet from Terran. “Stay away from her, Knowles,” Garret snarled.

“I can hardly do that when she is to be my wife.” Terran fought to retain his calm, but deep inside he felt none of the even-temperedness that he put on.

“Did you not hear what Lord Delaney said? Lady Bria will be my wife.”

Terran lowered his chin and glared. “That remains to be seen.”

“Look, Knowles,” Garret said, “I respected your right to lady Odella when you won her. I expect you to do the same.”

“Yes,” Terran growled, feeling the fury rise within him, “except you neglected to tell me that you had already won her heart.”

Garret’s mouth dropped open, but he promptly closed it.

“Your name was the last thing she ever said.”

Garret’s brows drew together in agony, and for a moment he looked away from Terran. “Yes,” he admitted, “we loved each other.” When he lifted his gaze, there was bitterness and rage glittering in his eyes. “But when her father chose you, we agreed to abide by his decision. I left her with you.”

Terran straightened slightly. Perhaps Dysen is more honorable than I’ve given him credit for. Perhaps he did love Odella, and she loved him. Perhaps everything I thought was love was nothing of the sort. Could it be I only loved Odella as I’d love the spoils of war?

“And you tormented her so much she took her own life,” Garret added.

The words snapped Terran out of his ponderings. His fists clenched. The accusation was insulting. “I think your giving up on her love drove her to it, not me.”

Fury flamed in Garret’s eyes. “So you’ve come here to get even?”

Terran began to turn away. “I’ve come for my wife.”

Garret seized his arm, halting him. “You think you can go from one woman to the next without a thought to their feelings? Well, it isn’t going to work this time. You won’t have Bria.”

“Is that a threat?” Terran asked, jerking his arm free of Garret’s hold.

“Consider it a challenge. Tomorrow on the tilting field.”