"Pavda is very well." Galen's brows lifted. "And so is Selik. I believe Apollo and Daphne are similarly disposed." He paused. "I'm in fairly good health myself."

"I was getting to that." Tess stopped before the mare and reached up to stroke her muzzle. "Though I had no concern on that score. You seem well able to care for yourself."

"You're annoyed with me." He took a step nearer and murmured in a low tone. "I made you feel helpless last night, and you resent it."

"Yes."

"It wasn't me who made you feel that way. It was your own nature. You could have fought me. All you had to do was say no, and I would have stopped."

She flushed. "You caught me by surprise. I wasn't expecting you—"

"You were expecting me to take but not to indulge in play?" He shook his head. "That's not my way." He took a step back, and his gaze went lingeringly over her from booted feet to the hood that loosely covered her hair. "Your new riding clothes are quite lovely on you."

She avoided his stare. "The fabric glitters too much. I thought it would be simpler."

"It is simple." He studied her expression. "And I think you like it very much."

She did like it, but she was making no admissions to him when she was still feeling so vulnerable. The white divided skirt of the gown flowed when she walked, and yet gave her a sense of freedom she had never known. The loose hip-length hooded cape that completed the outfit was trimmed in rich gold embroidery and billowed gracefully with her every movement. "It will do." She reached up and touched the barbaric golden pendant that hung from a rope necklace encircling her throat. "Viane gave me a great casket of jewels, and this was in it. She said you insisted I wear it whenever I go out." Her lips tightened. "I have no liking for trinkets."

"Still, you'll wear it."

"I will not be—"

"It's not an ornament. Only the members of my house are permitted to wear that pendant."

She felt suddenly branded, possessed as she had when she lay naked before him on the cushions last night. "Let Viane wear it then."

"She has one she wears when she goes abroad in the city." His gaze raked her mutinous face. "Why do you argue? It will protect you."

"I'll think about it." She moved around to Pavda's left side, passing Said, who was looking desperately into space, trying to appear invisible.

"You'll wear it or you won't leave your chamber."

She glanced defiantly back at his grim expression. "I said I'd consider it."

He jerked his head toward the palace. "Leave us, Said."

The young man gave a relieved murmur and thrust the reins into Galen's hand. "Yes, Majiron." The next moment he was taking the steps of the palace two at a time.

"There's no question about this, Tess," Galen said softly. "I know you're looking for a battle to win from me, but it isn't going to be this one. The pendant will keep you safe, and you will wear it. "

"What?" Tess asked absently, her gaze on Said's back as he entered the palace. She looked back at Galen. "Why did you send him away?"

He blinked at the sudden change of subject. "I told you I meant to win this battle."

"And you didn't want him to see my defeat?" She looked at him in surprise. "How very odd. My father never cared if servants saw my mother's humiliations." She held up her hand as he opened his lips to speak. "I know. I did it again. I'll try to keep a more cautious tongue. Now, help me get on Pavda. I'm not at all sure I can swing my limb over her back. Do you suppose there's a physical reason women ride sidesaddle?"

He frowned. "We've not finished our discussion."

"But of course we've finished." She scowled at him. "Am I not still wearing this gaudy necklace?"

"But you will continue to wear it?"

Her scowl vanished. "Help me onto Pavda." He took a step nearer, lifted her, and she awkwardly threw her leg over. "I feel most… peculiar."

"That will pass." He stood looking up at her with narrowed gaze. "Why aren't you angry any longer?"

"I wasn't ang—" She broke off as she met his gaze and then said simply, "You're right, I don't like to be made to feel helpless, but I can bear it as long as you allow me to keep my pride."

He looked away from her toward the stable. "A man also feels helpless when the rutting need seizes him. He aches and cannot sleep and wants only to thrust deep into a woman. I wanted to go to another woman, any woman, last night after I left you."

She stiffened. "And did you?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"We've just been wed."

"I don't understand."

"My movements are watched. I would not have anyone think I didn't find you pleasing."

She blushed. "I'm no fool. I know all men are unfaithful. I wouldn't care."

"I would care for you."

"You would?" She frowned. "You're a very strange man, my lord."

"Admitted." He smiled crookedly. "And since I met you, I've taken note that my actions are becoming even stranger."

"I would like our relationship to be… more clear. I do not like to play cat to your mouse."

"Not even a little? Tell me, Tess, don't you find the situation 'interesting'? Isn't your heart beating a little faster because you don't know what to expect of me?"

"Perhaps, but that doesn't mean I'm at all comfortable with the feeling."

He burst out laughing. "It will become easier. Lust cannot be maintained twenty-four hours a day. It must ebb and flow."

"It sounds a tedious process, and you don't appear to me to be a patient man."

"Only when the prize is worth it." His hand suddenly reached out and touched her thigh.

She gasped, and her gaze flew to his face. She felt the warm heaviness of his palm through the thin material, and the memory of the intimacy of his touch last night flooded back to her. She moistened her lips with her tongue. "The guards—"

"They can't see." His body was blocking the view of the guards by the palace door as he slowly rubbed back and forth, his gaze never leaving hers. He said thickly, "I can be a patient man, but I'm not a monk. That's why there will be moments like this when I have to touch you."

His hand seemed to scorch through the material, and she found her breasts swelling, pushing against her bodice as she looked down at him.

Then his hand fell away from her, and he stepped back. "But I've taught myself to wait." He swung onto Selik's saddle. "I've even learned to enjoy the anticipation, if it doesn't go on too long."

She asked shakily, "And if it does?"

For an instant she glimpsed a flicker of recklessness beneath the control of his expression. "Then nature would probably triumph over will. Let us hope that doesn't happen." He turned Selik and grabbed Pavda's reins. "Grip Pavda with your knees, and keep your back straight. I'll keep you on a lead until you become accustomed to the new rhythm."

"Hold, dammit." Selik pounded behind, rapidly overtaking Pavda. "Rein her in, Tess."

Galen's tone was sharp, and she supposed she should obey him. But, dear heaven, she didn't want to stop. This morning the sky was blue and the sun hot and the wind tore at her hair, taking her breath and stinging her cheeks. The blood pounded through her body, and Pavda's gait lengthened into a gallop that was like gliding on silk. She nudged Pavda to go faster.