Galen's expression… Something was there that she had waited for. Something was there…

But he was moving too slowly. Tamar already had his dagger in hand and was turning toward her.

Galen was going to be too late!

She was going to die.

No, not now. Not when she knew Galen—

Candlelight gleamed on the lifted blade of the knife.

She felt herself falling into darkness.

Chapter 12

« ^

Galen's strong arms were carrying her. She heard the click of his boot heels on stone.

"Don't"—her throat hurt terribly as she forced the words out—"let me die."

"Hush, Tess." Galen's voice broke on the words. "Don't talk."

She opened her eyes to look up at his pale face. Didn't he understand? She had to tell him how important it was that she live and they be together. "It's important…"

Cool air on her face, the glare of a hundred torches from the El Zalan riders waiting on horseback outside the tower.

Galen said hoarsely, "You're not going to die."

She was shifted to someone else's arms as Galen mounted Selik.

Sacha's arms, she identified, as she gazed up into his familiar blue eyes. "Tell him—"

"Don't be stubborn, imp," Sacha interrupted impatiently. "You've put us through quite enough without wringing our emotions with that wisp of a frog's croak."

Comfort flooded through her. Even Sacha wouldn't call her a frog if she were a dying woman. "Not my fault," she said with as much indignation as her lack of volume permitted. "I… couldn't do everything."

Sacha smiled down at her. "You certainly tried. Drugging Tamar's men, sending the message. You left us deplorably little scope for heroism. I suppose we should thank you for leaving Tamar to us."

"Didn't reach the pitcher in time."

"Give her to me," Galen said.

She was being transferred to Galen's arms again, wrapped in a cloak and held close. "I did do very well."

"Splendidly." Galen pulled the cloak closer and settled her comfortably across the saddle. "Now, go to sleep and let us do the rest."

"Tamar?"

She felt Galen's muscles tense against her. "Dead."

A broken mirror… No, that wasn't right. She had to tell Galen how wrong he had been. "Twisted. Not like you."

"Shh." He pressed her cheek into the hollow of his shoulder as he turned Selik and raised his arm to signal to the men behind him. "You can talk later."

A moment later the rhythm of Selik's gait began to lull her to drowsiness. She breathed in the scent of dew-wet grass, leather, and lemon. "We should—talk. There's much to say."

"Later."

Yes, it could all wait. Now that she had seen his face in that revealing moment, she could wait for the rest.

She nestled closer. "Later."

Sunlight was streaming into her chamber at the palace, and Viane was sitting in a chair next to the divan when Tess woke several hours later.

Viane's features were taut with strain as she leaned over to clasp Tess's hand with her own. "Do not try to talk."

Tess's hand went to her throat, flinching as she touched the bruised flesh. "Hurts."

"There are terrible bruises," Viane whispered. "I am so sorry. It is my fault—"

"Nonsense." Tess sat up and threw off the sheet. Dear heaven, she sounded like a squawking crow. "How could it be your fault? It was Tamar who choked me. Where is Galen?"

"He just left you. He's been sitting here all night."

That seemed an excellent sign to Tess, and added to what she had seen in his expression last night…

"I want to see him." She stood up, swayed, and then steadied on her feet. "Will you help me dress?"

"You should rest." Viane frowned. "Besides, he can't see you. He's just received word that the Tamrovian party has been sighted a mile from the city gates."

Her father! Sweet Mary, she had almost forgotten this new threat on the horizon. Yet she found to her surprise that the news didn't bring the same fear it had when she had first heard he was coming. After facing Tamar, she found the threat posed by her father dwindled. "Is Galen in his chamber?"

Viane nodded. "Why can't you wait? Kalim is still outside in the hall. You can send a message to—"

"I hate to wait. I want to go myself." Tess's brows lifted. "Kalim has been outside all night too?"

Viane flushed and nodded. "He's been very kind, but he will not leave me. He seems to think he's done something unforgivable."

I would die for her, Kalim had said.

"I'm sure Sacha would have been equally—" Tess stopped and shook her head. The words felt wrong, somehow. She must think this through at a later time.

"And Galen will not forgive. He's very angry at Kalim for letting you be put in Tamar's hands."

"It wasn't Kalim's fault. I'll talk to Galen about it later." But not now, she was too impatient to put her own life in order. "Come, I want words with Galen before my father arrives." She moved across the chamber toward the dressing room. "I'll wear the emerald-green gown. While I wash and dress, will you choose a beautiful scarf to go around my neck and hide these bruises?"

She must try to speak normally as well. Galen must not be influenced by pity. Whatever his decision, whatever he told her, it must come from his heart.

"Go back to your chamber." Galen frowned as soon as she walked in his chamber. "Better still, go back to bed."

"Why? I belong here." Tess closed the door behind her and looked at him. "And I find bed very boring when interesting things are happening elsewhere."

For an instant a glimmer of humor eased the grimness of his expression. "I've noted you're not overcome with ennui when interesting things are also happening in bed." His smile faded. "I don't want you here when your father arrives. You've fought enough battles."

"But this is mine also. Where is my father?"

"He should be here soon. Sacha rode out to meet him and bring him to the palace."

"Then we'll wait together." She smiled at him. "I must be here to defend myself. After all, I'm only a helpless woman. How will I know you won't hand me over to him?"

"Helpless woman? You jest. All of the El Zalan are talking of how you arranged Tamar's capture." He frowned. "And I told you I wouldn't— Why are you laughing?"

"I feel like laughing, I'm very happy." She moved across the room to stand before him. "Tell me, Galen, now that Tamar is dead, the threat to the alliance is much less, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"And you don't really need me any longer to secure the unity?"

He stiffened. "I didn't say that."

"Then say it. Give me the truth."

His lips tightened. "No."

She smiled. "Then I'm free. After my father leaves, I will go to France. You will furnish an escort, of course?"

"No!" Galen's hands closed on her shoulders as he glared down at her. "You promised me—"

"A child? But you don't need a child now."

"I do need a child. "

"Not for the unity."

"No, but I… need that child."

"But you promised you'd release me when I was no longer needed for unity. Would you break your promise?"

"I told you… I need you."