"Pride? I've set myself to humbler tasks, but I find it unusual you would require my aid."
She shrugged. "You are here. You might as well help."
"Anything else?"
"Not now. Perhaps later."
"I'll journey forth immediately on the quest." He turned and headed for the door. "Bolt the door and open it only to me."
She leaned her forehead against the wood of the door after she had bolted it behind him. Everything was going amiss. She had meant to keep Kadar at a distance, but she had been forced to draw him closer. Well, it was only for the short time she was here.
She would not let that evil man have Kadar.
Chapter 5.
"SWEET MARY," Kadar swore softly as he stabbed the needle viciously through the soft muslin. "You will not be able to wear this gown. It's stained with the blood of a thousand pinpricks."
"It's brown." Selene bent to stir the fire in the hearth before settling back on her stool. "The blood will hardly show at all."
He scowled at her. "I have no liking for this task. Why must we sew in the evening as well? I might survive if I could see what I was doing."
"The fire gives adequate light. We've only completed one gown. I need another."
His gaze suddenly lifted from the cloth. "Do you? I think not."
"Why else would I go to this bother? Do you think I like hearing you curse and moan over a little pinprick?"
"A little pinprick? My fingers are--" He paused. "Very clever. You almost distracted me." He set aside the cloth and linked his arms around his knees. "You don't need another gown. You wish to keep me with you."
"Nonsense. Your vanity is out of all bounds."
He looked at her, waiting.
"Why should I wish to keep you with me? You curse and moan and I must show you stitches that a babe would learn in the cradle."
"You're trying to annoy me." He smiled. "But I would never be so ungallant as to show anger to my savior."
"Savior? I don't know what you mean."
"We've never talked about it, but you know. You've always been my savior." His gaze shifted to the flames. "It's so easy to walk the dark path. Easy and exciting. And once you've tried it, you always want to go back. It's like the first scent of hashish. You want more."
"But you didn't want more. You left here."
"Because I didn't want to be like Nasim. I could see myself being drawn deeper and deeper. . . . Life has never treated me with any particular kindness, and I liked the idea of the power Sinan and Nasim wielded."
"Nasim is evil."
"Yes, but then, so am I. Most men have a wicked streak."
"You're not evil. You may be witless and unfair, but you're not like him."
"Part of me is. But I can control it, if I have reason to fight him." His gaze shifted from the fire to stare directly into her eyes. "You give me reason, Selene."
His dark hair shimmered in the firelight, and his eyes . . .
Dear God, she was melting. She wanted to reach out and touch him.
She would not be drawn like this. She would not be hurt again.
