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“Well done? Is that all ye have to say? It was damned brilliant!” He chuckled happily “We were brilliant!” After a few seconds, however, his sot a hold of ye and why ye didn’t kill him when ye had the chance”

Chance set her on her feet and eyed her angrily

Royce’s chin went up defensively, and her hands went to her jean-clad hips “What makes you think I had a chance to kill him?”

“Ye said he took ye into his ar, unless that hat ye wanted, ye should have run hi at her

“I was taken by surprise, and when he kissed me—” she started

“He what?” Chance ran a frantic hand through his yellow locks “He kissed ye? Ye let him kiss ye?”

“I was taken by surprise … but even so, I don’t think I was in any way too distracted to call for my sword! It just wouldn’t have worked … at that moment … I kneas prepared for just such an eventuality, and besides, just then, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to capture him or kill him”

Chance took her shoulders, pulled her up close, and looked hard and long into her eyes “Are ye saying ye doona want him dead?”

“I wasn’t certain then … now I think, yes, he should die … and then … I aain”

Chance dropped his hands and stood back froo home”

“I a because, so far, I am the only lead you have to Pestale”

“Then answer me this If ye know the Dark Prince will harm where he chooses—as he just attempted—what then will ye do?”

“Whatever it takes to stop him—that is a defensive…”

He paced a moment “Ye be a trial, lass”

“You may not think so when I tell you that I trust you to useof epithets he started to level over her suggestion “He wants me—for whatever reason, he has decided I should be his mate, and he means to have me At some point, you could use me to draw him out”