When she calmed he set her back on her feet, removed his cloak, and settled it about her shoulders with a gentle touch. "Close your eyes."

"Why?"

"So the light doesn't hurt them."

Ca.s.s closed them. Even then she could see the blue fire from behind her lids. The powerful throb of pain in her face faded and she regained some of her spent strength. Even the sadness she felt inside eased a bit.

"How do you feel?"

She opened her eyes and stared at his impa.s.sive face. The wind threw his silver hair against his strong cheeks, across his stern mouth. His voice had held such concern, she'd thought for a moment... "Much better, thank you."

"Good." And then he leaned down and kissed her breath away. It felt different from the other kisses he'd given her. More tenderness than pa.s.sion within it. But then she threw her arms around him and kissed him back with fervor and it changed again, that pa.s.sion that always lay between them sparking to life. Her knees grew weak and she thought of the small tent that they'd shared and the pleasure he'd given her, and she wished they had someplace they could go away from the demands of their world, to just be together. For despite his denials she knew she gave him pleasure. That second night in the tent he had wanted her so badly she'd felt it shimmer in the air between them, and the moment he had her alone he'd claimed her...

She pulled away from him and stared in wonder. Her husband had managed to make her forget the horrors of the past few hours.

He set her from him again, picked up her hand, and studied the unfurled petals of the rose ring. "You are fully recovered now."

Ca.s.s nodded, even though she still felt a bit weak. But rest and a good meal would fix that.

"Then next time I tell you something, woman, you will listen."

"I... I beg your pardon?"

The wind shushed through the tall gra.s.s and whispered in the trees. "This never would have happened if you'd obeyed my wishes and stayed back at Firehame Palace."

He sounded as if he blamed her for being abducted. "Surely, sir, you could have used your gray fire to keep me there, as you did back at the inn."

"I can't afford to always be wasting my magic on a disobedient wife."

Lady Ca.s.sandra realized that despite his stoic demeanor, he was still very angry with her. Could she hope that he had truly feared for her? That what she'd glimpsed in his eyes had been real? Or did this anger really come from injured pride because someone had dared to take something of his? "Then I'm sorry to say, dear husband, that you'd best get used to it, for I cannot promise to obey your every command."

His lip twitched. And not from amus.e.m.e.nt, she felt sure.

"You could have been killed." He said it as if he commented on the weather, but his voice had dropped dangerously low.

"I can take care of myself."

"Indeed?" And those crystal eyes of his glittered, a deep black full of dangerous intelligence, and he stared at her a long time. Ca.s.sandra feared she had aroused his suspicions and mentally scolded herself for a fool. She could at least pretend to agree to obey him.

She opened her mouth, but he spun on his heel, stalking back into the ruined castle without a backward glance. Ca.s.s wavered in indecision for a moment and then trudged after him, skirting several dead bodies near the entrance of the keep.

"General Raikes," called Lady Agnes as soon as they entered the long hall. She swayed toward them, an officer on each arm. "I knew you would come and rescue us. I told her you would." And she glared briefly at Ca.s.sandra before batting her blue eyes at him again. The rest of the ladies followed behind, avoiding Ca.s.s's eyes, except for Lady Verney, who gave her a nod and a hesitant smile.

The wind blew harder from outside, reaching into the hall, plastering the ladies' gowns against their bodies. They pulled borrowed cloaks closer about their shoulders.

Her husband raised a brow. "My wife doubted me?"

Lady Agnes t.i.ttered. "She said we should use our magic to protect ourselves, can you imagine? As if sparkles in the air and nimble fingers could save us."

Lady Verney stepped forward, her height commanding attention. "Lady Ca.s.sandra offered herself in order to give us time to gather our resources, sir. It was the most selfless act I have ever witnessed." She stepped over to Ca.s.s and took her hand. "Please tell me you suffered no harm. I shan't be able to live with myself if you have."

Ca.s.sandra didn't know how to react to this sudden support. She glanced over at Dominic, but if anything, his black eyes glittered more dangerously than they had but moments ago. Was she the only one who noticed the fury beneath that calm expression? "I a.s.sure you I'm fine, Lady Verney."

"Sophia. Please, call me Sophia."

"As you wish-"

"I do believe I shall faint," announced Lady Agnes. The men holding her tightened their grips and she turned and scowled at them. They let go. She staggered over to Dominic. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d caught her in his arms. "You have no idea what horrors we suffered through, General."

"No doubt, madam." He glanced through the hall to the outside. "Let's see if we can make it to the Fire and Water Inn before the storm breaks." He picked up Lady Agnes, who squealed in delight, and carried her out to his horse. The wagon that must have brought them here sat next to the mounts but the officers ignored it, each taking a lady and riding double.

After giving his general a swift glance, a young man with fiery hair and a wide mouth a.s.sisted Ca.s.s up into his saddle. Apparently Dominic intended to ignore his wife and ride with his mistress. If he thought to punish Ca.s.sandra this way for his ridiculous notion of her rebellious behavior, it wouldn't work. She could not afford to subjugate herself to his will.

But the general acted as if he hadn't given his wife another thought once he had her back in his possession. When they had all mounted up he motioned for them to ride, except for his own horse, Lady Agnes still perched in the saddle. He walked back to the ruins alone. Ca.s.s watched over her shoulder as he raised his muscular arms, red fire blazing from his palms. It first touched the dead men surrounding the entrance, then surged within the keep, flaring out the windows and jagged openings and roofless chambers. The fire rumbled and hissed, shaking the stones from the walls and making the entire structure waver in her sight.

Her husband had used magical red fire, and as far as she knew, the most potent of his a.r.s.enal. Within a few hours, nothing but black rubble would remain of their prison.

Lady Ca.s.sandra shivered.

Her escort gave her a squeeze of rea.s.surance. She sat in front of him, one leg thrown over the pommel to help her sit sidesaddle, even though the saddle wasn't meant for it. He had one arm wrapped around her waist, the other holding the reins. He leaned down and whispered into her ear, "Our enemies will think twice before trying to abduct you again, my lady."

His voice reeked with pride.

Ca.s.sandra fought to stop her shivering. She had never seen such a potent display of power, had never witnessed the destructive strength of her husband's magic. And she thought she could a.s.sa.s.sinate his father, whose power far surpa.s.sed his? Perhaps Thomas had been right. Perhaps she should have run from this task G.o.d had given her.

She prayed for courage.

The sound of hoofbeats approaching made her glance up into the smiling face of Lady Agnes and the expressionless face of her husband as they rode up to her. But her escort must have read something in those elven features, for he quickly removed his arm from about her waist. The general nodded at his officer and then urged his horse to the front of their column.

Lady Ca.s.sandra struggled to maintain her seat the rest of the way to Devizes, for her escort refused to touch her after that.

And yet Dominic had no qualms about touching the woman sharing his saddle. Fie, he barely kept his hands off her. Unfortunately, Ca.s.s had an un.o.bstructed view of them in front of her. How the general managed to direct his horse while his mistress rubbed her hands all over him and held his face while she kissed him was beyond Ca.s.sandra's understanding.

She decided she could keep her face as stoic as her husband usually kept his.

And then Lady Agnes wrapped her hands in Dominic's hair.

Ca.s.s narrowed her eyes, tightened her grip on the edges of the saddle. She loved the feel of his hair, those satiny strands beneath her palms, the silvery ma.s.s of it twined about her fingers. d.a.m.n the woman, that was her territory, her favorite way of touching him.

The beat of the horse's hooves, the wild swish of the wind in the trees, the sway of the bushes beside their path all combined to form a single harmony. A song that crept in with her jealousy and started to form a dance of magic.

"Lady Ca.s.sandra," said a female voice.

Ca.s.s turned and blinked. Lady Verney and her escort had ridden up beside her. The tall lady reached over and patted her shoulder, glancing at Dominic and his mistress with contempt. "The elven lack human feeling," she said. "You cannot judge them by our standards."

"He's half human," muttered Ca.s.sandra, grateful for Sophia's timely appearance. When had she ever allowed the dance to come upon her without willing it to? Not since she'd had her trials.

Lady Verney hadn't heard her, but the man sitting behind her said, "Not enough to notice, lady."

Ca.s.s ignored him.

"I daresay," said Sophia, "that Lady Agnes has a way about her."

Ca.s.sandra grimaced. Sophia laughed.

"What I mean," continued the lady, "is that she actually made us feel as if you were the interloper. That a new wife would steal her lover from her." Her thin lips curled down. "Faith, I wonder how she managed to hoodwink us into believing such nonsense?"

"She charms women as easily as she does men."

"Indeed." Lady Verney's watery eyes narrowed. "It's hard to withstand that elven allure when they choose to apply it." Her gaze strayed to Dominic's firm back and muscular shoulders. "None of us blame you, you know. For being unable to resist him."

Ca.s.s shrugged. "Why should I? I do not know the art of being coy, Lady Verney, having never been taught it."

"Sophia, dear, and yes, I'd heard of your... insular schooling. Your innocence is quite refreshing, and yet..."

She let the thought trail off while the sky overhead rumbled.

"I do believe we shan't beat the downpour." Lady Verney turned her head and nodded at the ladies behind them. "They will come around as well, my dear. You shan't be so alone anymore."

Ca.s.sandra's eyes burned, but fortunately rain started to fall, so Sophia did not see the start of her tears. She'd had to be kept apart to keep her secret, to pursue G.o.d's purpose for her. But that didn't mean she had ever liked it. Indeed, it might be half the reason for her infatuation with her new husband. Besides Thomas, she'd never been as close to anyone as she had become with Dominic.

The rain washed away her thoughts, and Ca.s.s pulled Dominic's cloak up over her head against the sudden downpour. It smelled of him. A clean, spicy scent that made her head spin and her body ache with desire. She felt only relief when her escort bent his body over hers and they broke into a gallop, racing for the comfort of the inn. By the time they reached Devizes, the rain had soaked the material and banished any scent of her husband.

The general and his mistress had entered the Fire and Water Inn well before them, so Ca.s.sandra had the advantage of walking in unseen. Dominic must have changed the king's mind about coming to Firehame, because His Majesty looked quite pleased with the company at the moment. On his left sat Mor'ded, his elven beauty like a shining light next to the small older king, and on his right must be...

Ca.s.s almost fell to her knees. She'd heard so much about Sir Robert Walpole, the leader of the Rebellion. Despite his gentle smile and affable expression, Ca.s.sandra could see the intelligence in his dark piercing eyes. For a moment she could see nothing but him.

"Ah, Your Majesty," drawled Imperial Lord Mor'ded, "this is my champion, General Dominic Raikes. Without his services we would never have had the esteemed pleasure of your company."

The king turned his bug-eyed gaze upon Dominic and regally nodded. "He looks very much like you."

"Indeed," replied the Imperial Lord. "Except he always dresses like a soldier. Perhaps you can educate him on the benefits of court attire, now that the ruler of fashion will reside in Firehame Palace."

Dominic bowed stiffly.

Ca.s.sandra heard the mocking tone in Mor'ded's voice when he addressed the king. Sir Robert did as well, for he watched the king like a hawk, as if waiting for any sign of eruption. But if the king noticed Mor'ded's tone he did not give any indication of it. And indeed, what could he have done about it anyway? He signed the papers the elven lords gave him for new laws, new t.i.tles, the transfer of land. They hardly needed the king's stamp yet used him as if it gained them credibility among the people. Ca.s.s sighed. Which it surely had to the general populace anyway.

"You have returned the ladies as well, I see," said Mor'ded to his son.

"Of course," answered Dominic as if there had been no doubt of it.

The king opened his mouth to say something and Mor'ded shushed him, his cold black eyes focused on his son's face. "And they are all unharmed?"

"As you see." Dominic put his arm around Lady Agnes, who gave him a beatific smile.

"But what of your wife? For surely she is the reason you charged out to rescue them, leaving the king behind and defenseless."

Ca.s.sandra frowned. Something lay beneath this conversation. Some threat or insinuation, for the king had hardly been left defenseless. The general had taken only a few of his troops with him, leaving the bulk of his force to guard the king. She glanced over at Sir Robert-who had distracted the king from his miff of being shushed with a tray of sweetmeats, but whose sharp eyes stayed riveted on the elven lord and his son.

He sensed something as well. Ca.s.s hoped she would have an opportunity to ask him about it. Perhaps he could figure it out.

Dominic did not respond to the accusation that he had left the king defenseless. "Breden sought to trick us. To take what is ours because we took what is his." He raised one elegant brow. "I disabused him of the notion he could best you in a game."

"And your wife? Where is she?"

Dominic shrugged. "With one of my men. She is back in our possession-what else matters?"

And then Mor'ded threw back his long thick hair and laughed, truly an evil sound. Ca.s.s wished he would refrain from it, even though it broke the tension in the room. Sir Robert blinked and collapsed into his chair with a frown. The Imperial Lord turned back to the king. "My court was so eager to meet you that several of them journeyed to Devizes for the privilege. Shall I introduce you to them? Lord Somers, in particular, wishes to know what color hose you deem fit for the winter season."

The king lifted his chin and gave a regal nod, holding out his beringed fingers to Lord Somers.

Lady Ca.s.sandra felt a sympathetic hand fall on her shoulder and looked up into the thin face of Lady Verney. The other woman's eyes shone with indignant shame for her and Ca.s.s suddenly felt very small. A very insignificant personage, by her husband's own words.

Ca.s.sandra gave her new friend a false smile and then faded backward into the shadows of the inn, finding the staircase and her room with little trouble. A servant waited in her room and she directed the young girl to fetch her dinner, for she refused to go back downstairs and subject herself to further humiliation in front of Sir Robert.

She fumed while she ate, attacking her dinner with the cutlery, cursing her husband by the only means at her disposal. By using the words she'd heard him use. She decided that she had finished with trying to please her husband. Indeed, she would now demand he show her at least a little respect.

By the time the frivolity in the main room had quieted, Ca.s.sandra had changed her mind. Dominic had not come to her room. Surely he would not choose that viper over her? She then decided she wouldn't scold him. She would perform a love dance for him instead, proving that Lady Agnes's charms were no match for her own.

By the time she fell asleep, quite alone in the large bed, she'd gone back to cursing him, the gold rose on her finger clenched into a tight bud.

Seven.

With Mor'ded accompanying them back to Firehame Palace, Dominic had no difficulty ignoring Ca.s.sandra. His father had tested his feelings for the girl back at the inn, and fortunately he'd disabused the man of the notion that he'd so fallen in love with his new wife he'd rushed to her rescue.

Although he couldn't be sure of that himself. And it worried Dominic that it might have had nothing to do with who had won Breden's game; that he had indeed rushed off to the rescue because he might have become fond of the girl. And when he saw her standing in that filthy room, rage had near overwhelmed him. The thought that another man had even touched her...

And yet something else nagged at him. Ca.s.sandra's story of how the two men had fought each other didn't quite add up to the condition of the dead bodies. She'd been lying and it made him suspicious, gave him another reason to keep her at arm's length. There was more to his wife than it appeared.

Dominic noted the redness of Ca.s.sandra's eyes as they journeyed, the way Aggie gloated over her. But he refused to pity her and kept his mistress at his side like a shield-although he couldn't seem to stomach her in his bed. She pouted about it but continued to share his tent.

Ca.s.sandra slept with the other ladies. At least his wife now had the friendship of Lady Verney to comfort her. His estimation of the tall woman's sensibilities rose considerably.

And Mor'ded no longer watched Ca.s.sandra and Dominic with calculating eyes.

Of course, with the king's retinue in tow, it took twice as long to return to the palace, and Dominic spent a weary day getting the new court settled into their home. And a long evening getting drunk enough at the fete that night to drown his anger at Ca.s.sandra's near brush with death. Fortunately she did not attend the celebration, and Mor'ded taunted the king so mercilessly that Dominic did manage to stay distracted.

Sometime during the night he must have made his way up the stairs of the dragon's tower and pa.s.sed out on the hard flagstone, for he woke the next morning with an aching back and a pounding head. He sat up and then immediately folded over, covering his face with his hands.

"Egads, the sun is too bright this morn."

A huff of breath that might have been mistaken for laughter if it hadn't come from a dragon.