Christian slowly circled the shuddering Verm.
“I am weak. I am a coward. Please,” Verm sniveled. He dropped his sword and collapsed to his knees, weeping.
Christian straightened. He wasn’t certain what to do. He had never encountered such a weak man before. He glanced over his shoulder at Willow.
Her blonde hair glowed in the soft moonlight. But somehow, she looked fragile and vulnerable. She cradled her arm to her side, and Christian feared she was more hurt than she let on.
Her eyes suddenly widened, and her mouth fell open.
That was all the warning Christian needed. He whirled, bringing his blade up.
Verm was on his feet, a dagger grasped and raised in his hand.
Christian lifted his swordless arm and blocked Verm’s strike. Then, he shoved his sword forward, pushing his blade into Verm’s stomach.
They stood that way for a moment, a coward and a dark angel, until a single drop of red trickled from the corner of Verm’s mouth, trailed down his chin, and splattered against the dirt. He looked at the sword in his torso and opened his fingers. The dagger tumbled to the ground with a dull thud.
Christian pulled his sword free.
Verm’s body jerked, and he crumpled to his knees. He gazed up at Christian in wonder and disbelief before crumpling forward into the dust of the road.
Christian stepped away from Verm. He grimaced, satisfied, and returned to Willow. The way she stood, holding her arm tightly to her side, made it obvious she was hurt. He cut the rope around her wrists.
Confusion marred her brow. “You came back.”
“I’m not running anymore. I gave you my word I wouldn’t leave. But what you did…” He shook his head.
“I hurt you, and I’m sorry,” she gasped. “I should have told you. I should have explained. I meant to. But I was embarrassed.”
“Embarrassed?” Christian echoed.
“I know how you feel about your brother. I was embarrassed I was working with him. I should never have made a deal with him.”
Christian dropped his chin to his chest. “We both made mistakes.”
“At first, I fully intended to get the book from you and give it to Simon. I was angry you were going to leave me.”
Christian felt a stab of remorse and nodded. “I deserved that.”
“But then, I realized I loved you, and I could never betray you.”
Christian scratched his head. “But you gave Simon the book.”
Willow grinned, placed her hand in his, and led him to the horse.
Christian followed her. Her hand somehow felt small in his.
She dug in one of the saddlebags and pulled out a red book. She presented it out to him. “I never took it back.”
Christian regarded the book, baffled. He opened it and leafed through the parchment pages. Maps. Itwasthe book. “I don’t understand.”
“I gave him a different book,” she admitted with something akin to pride in her voice.
He lifted his gaze to her, studying her face. “When? Where did you find a different book?”
“I had some help,” she admitted.
He looked down at the book. She hadn’t betrayed him. He had been wrong. So wrong. He should have trusted her. He should have known she had loyalty and honor. “Willow,” he said with all the anguish he felt in his voice.
