Page 17 (1/2)

Kaitlyn huffed a sigh of annoyance "Do you think you’d like to have twenty wives and hundreds of children?"

"Well, I don’t know about raising all those kids," he said, waggling his eyebrows, "but the begetting part doesn’t sound so bad"

She punched him on the shoulder "Men! All you ever think about is sex"

"Ow!"

"Serves you right"

Laughing, Zack pulled her into his arms "Katy, I don’t want anyone but you"

She stared up at hi too fast So, what do you want me to do? Back off? Go away?"

"Just kiss me, you idiot"

"You sweet talker," hefor Zack was bound to cause nothing but trouble, but so her as if he would never let her go

She wrapped her arrew deeper,Maybe her father wouldn’t object to having Zack for a son-in-law And ranted After all, no promises had been made, no words of commitment had been spoken between them

Just because she loved him didn’ton his knees, Lucien, Master of the Italian Fortress, regarded the wo before hi austere Long straight brown hair fell over her rigid shoulders Her eyes were the color of the sky on a cloudy day He had been surprised by her request for an audience--doubly so because he had never met her He kneho she was, of course Rodin Sherrad’s fourth wife He had heard rumors that Sherrad’s son, Drake, was interested in her whereabouts, though Lucien had no idea why

Lucien gestured at the chair across from his "Please, sit"

"Thank you"

"We can spend several useless minutes in small talk," Lucien said "Or we can skip the niceties and you can coht to the point and tellcoveted the Carpathian Fortress"

"Indeed?" Lucien lifted one brow, concerned that anyone should have such knowledge The Carpathian Fortress was the largest of its kind In days past, there had been those who had challenged Rodin for its possession All had been defeated But Rodin was no longer a threat "Well-known by whom?"

"By myself"

"You did not co your help in avenging my kin"

Lucien frowned "Explain"

"Drake Sherrad killed o," Lucien interjected "Wait a minute Did you say ‘sons’?"

"Yes" She had no proof that Daryn was dead, but she had not heard from him inher She didn’t knoho had killed hi she was certain--Drake Sherrad was involved

"What is it you want from me?"

"There are those within the Carpathian Fortress who are not happy with the changes Drake has h of them to overpower Drake and assuiance to ether, we can overthrow Sherrad and claim the Carpathian Fortress" Lucien wasn’t alone in his desire to rule Sherrad’s territory She took a deep breath "When it is ours, we can rule it together"

He reared back, eyes ith astonishe?"