But it was over and he knew it.
With that thought slashing through him, he did the hardest thing he’d ever done in his life. He watched as she made her way out of the room.
Xaydin pressed his hand to his eyes and cursed beneath his breath. How had this happened? How had he allowed an enemy’s assassin to slide her way into his well-guarded heart?
And yet she wasn’t his enemy. Not like her mother. If she were, she’d have never 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 Thirteen Kingdoms.” Candara’s voice filled his ears as he realized when he dropped the ward to let Gisela leave, she must have entered his room. “Then again, I take it back. You’re the greatest fool ever born.”
Without uncovering his eyes, he growled at her. “Leave me alone, Dara. I’ve no patience for you at present.”
“Good, because I don’t have any for you, either. I’ve never suffered fools and I have no intention of starting now.”
To his complete astonishment, she came over and slapped him across his uninjured ribs.
Xaydin grimaced at the unexpected pain and moved his arm so that he could glare up at her. “What are you doing?”
“Beating you for your idiocy. Be grateful you’re injured. It’s the only thing that’s keeping me from doing more damage.”
He snorted dismissively at her threat. “It’d take a lot more than your hits to harm me. Or even your potions.”
“I don’t know if I’d take that bet. Not with the anger burning in my soul at the moment. How could you let Gisela leave you?”
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?”
“I was born mad, but in the past, you always seemed to have more sense. 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. “We’re not stupid or blind. All of us know how you feel about her. It’s no great secret, given the light that comes into your eyes at the mere mention of Gisela’s name.Never mind the way you watch her like a hungry wolf whenever she draws near you.”
“Centaur shit.”
She rolled her eyes at him, then said something under her breath that he couldn’t quite make out.
“Did you just call me an ogre?”
“I called you an ogre-headed troll.”
“Why?”
She moved to slap him again, but this time he grabbed her hand before she made contact.
Instead, she kicked her foot against the bed and used her powers to assault him.
“Ow!” he snapped as something sharp struck his ass.
“You’re my brother, Xaydin, and I love you, but I swear there are times when I could strangle the very life out of you.” Candara turned away and headed for the door.
She paused and looked back at him. “Tell me something, Xaydin. When you’re too old to carry your sword and battle for the weak, who will sit in the hall beside you to keep you company?”
