Chapter 7
Justina shrunk back, recognizing Lord Damien. Her heart lurched in terror as her eyes shifted to Adam and protectiveness washed over her. What had he done to Adam? She overcame her fear and reached out, ripping Adam from his arms.
“I was showing him around the castle,” Damien explained, “and he fell asleep in the throne chair. He must have been more tired --”
“Stay away from him, you monster,” Justina growled, wiping some of Adam’s hair from his forehead and moving to the bed to lay him down.
Damien stood in the doorway for a long moment.
“I know who you are,” Justina snapped, whirling on him. “I know what you did. You are a killer. A murderer.”
Damien didn’t move. He stood silently, a dark shadow lit by the dancing torchlight in the hallway behind him. “I didn’t hurt him.”
“Stay away from him!”
Another heartbeat passed before Damien nodded and left the room, softly closing the door.
Justina sat on the bed beside Adam. In the soft glow of the firelight, Adam’s face looked pale. Her mind interposed the face of her dead father over Adam’s. Her trembling hand had wiped her father’s hair from his forehead, too. “Adam?” She didn’t know what she would do if anything happened to her brother.
He moaned softly and opened his eyes sleepily. When he saw her, a grin spread over his lips. “You should have seen the barracks,” he whispered.
Justina nodded as relief filled her. He was fine, just exhausted from so much excitement. “Shhh,” she said softly. “Go to sleep.”
“Can we stay another day?”
She wanted to leave as soon as possible, but how could she say no to her brother? He meant the world to her. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
“I want to see the falcons...” His voice trailed off as he slipped into sleep.
Justina pulled one of the blankets over him. What was she going to do?
Monster. It was unnerving to hear the accusation here, in Acquitaine. Damien had come to believe he was more than that. He was loved by Aurora. That should be enough.
He entered the solar.
Aurora was bent over a table, studying a piece of parchment. She looked up as he entered, her face turning to joy. She slowly rose, and her happiness faded to concern. “What’s wrong?”
“It was me.” Damien looked away from her. “She recognized me.”
“Damien –” She reached out to touch him.
Damien pulled away, moving across the room to the hearth. He stared down into the dancing fire. “I knew this day would come.”
“What day?”
“When my past would catch up with me. When someone would recognize me.” He had been living on borrowed time; this life was too wonderful for him, almost a dream. He knew it couldn’t last.
“She hasn’t accused you of anything,” Aurora reasoned. “Are you certain she knows it was you?”
Monster. “I’m certain.”
“I shall speak to her. I am certain –”
“No.” Damien didn’t want Aurora to know any of the horrible murders he had committed in his other life. She already knew too much. “I will deal with it.”
“Damien.” She touched his shoulder, pulling him around to look at her. “You are my husband now. You are Lord of Acquitaine.”
Damien scowled in confusion.
