She tried to smile through the tears gathering in her eyes.Ah, her soldier of Christ, always fighting the good fight.But this he could not fight.He had no claim to her and no way to save her but to take her away and if he took her from here, they would be hunted and killed.
“So his plan is to declare you possessed and then what?Lock you away?Kill you?”
“No.He wants me to know he has the power to do whatever he wants with me.And he is right.”She laid her head over his beating heart.“He is the one who is evil.”
Christien lifted her head by placing his thumb under her chin.“But Lucien wasn’t performing an ‘exorcism’ when I entered, was he?”His eyes burned with fury and his muscles tightened with suppressed anger.“Madelaine?Has he hurt you before?”
She thought of all the times Lucien cornered her and touched her.Of the times his dark, glistening eyes followed her around the hall.She recalled his hate-filled face when he attacked her.She shuddered to think what would have happened if she hadn’t fought back.“Not like this.”
He cursed again.“Woman, I do not know how you survive in this pit of hell day after day.If I had but the power…”
His voice trailed away and she looked up at the helplessness written on his face.
“I wish you did have the power,” she said softly.
He made a sound low in his throat and closed his eyes briefly.“What am I to do with you?”
Keep holding me like this,she wanted to say.But she held her tongue for that was the old Madelaine talking.The new Madelaine understood nothing good could come of what was between them.Lucien would not go away because Christien threatened him and eventually he would go to her husband and tell him about Christien.Then neither of them would be safe.
“I am concerned for your safety.”
She huffed out a breath that was the closest thing to a laugh she could manage.“There is no safety in these walls.”
He tipped her head up and she saw, in the bright depths of his silver eyes, how frightened he was for her.’Twas a different feeling, knowing someone cared for her well-being.
“Come.”He stood and took her hand, gently helping her to stand on wobbling legs.Her head swam, but Christien’s comforting hold didn’t leave her until everything righted itself.
“Do you carry a dagger?”
She shook her head.“The count forbids me to carry any weapons besides my eating dagger.He insists he can protect his property himself.”
“More than likely it is to protect his own miserable hide,” he muttered, causing her to smile sadly.’Twas a thought she’d often had.She may be naïve, but she wasn’t foolish.She understood her husband kept her unarmed for a reason.Many a time she wished for a weapon to plunge into his black heart.
“I am going to teach you to defend yourself.There are ways to fight that require naught but your own fingers and hands.How many times have you encountered Lucien alone?”
“Occasionally.”
Christien looked down his nose at her, his expression so severe it bordered on silly and caused her lips to twitch in amusement.“It is me you are speaking with, Madelaine.You can be truthful.It’s more than occasionally, is it not?”
Startled, Madelaine stared at him for a moment.He was right.This was Christien, she could tell him anything.She’d been alone for so long she’d become used to the fact she had no one to confide in.Even her maids reported to her husband, and Madelaine learned to hide everything from everyone at all times.It had become so ingrained in her she forgot what it was like to actually have a friend to speak openly to.Even now the idea seemed extraordinary.
“It depends on his mood,” she said.“If he’s in a particularly vile mood I know to stay away.”
“And if he searches you out?”
“I try to make sure that never happens.”
“But it does.”He searched her face, reading her thoughts clearly.“I am going to teach you how to protect yourself,machérie.”
He grabbed her bliaut and yanked her hard against his body in a move so sudden and unexpected she could only gasp.Her body went rigid, frozen as fear took over.
“Fight me,” he said between clenched teeth.
She stared up at him, unmoving, and he shook her.Not hard, but enough to jerk her head back and for her to cry out softly.“Fight!Pretend I’m Lucien and fight me.”
She continued to stare at him, her body as limp as a child’s rag doll.He shoved her away from him hard enough for her to stumble and grab on to the small wooden table in front of the fireplace.Her legs started to go numb but she held herself up.What was wrong with her?’Twas Christien.He didn’t mean her harm.Yet, her mind didn’t comprehend that.
“Is this how you react when confronted with Lucien?Mon Dieu,woman, no wonder he bullies you.”He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and took a step toward her.She made a small sound and backed up.
