Lair of the Lion

hours. I left you well before that time."
    Her lashes swept down to break the contact with his hawklike gaze. He missed nothing—
    she had no way to hide her slightest thought from him. He read her so easily. Isabella didn't know what to think. She didn't know what he was trying to say. She lifted her chin. "I won't believe it, Nicolai. Why would you murder him? You could have ordered his death, and no one would have blamed you."
    He did move then, turning away from her with a fluid, catlike gesture, power and coordination rippling through his body. His dark hair spilled down his back, a wild mane as untamable as the man. "I despised that man, Isabella. I wanted him dead. Not just dead, I wanted him to suffer first." He made the admission in a low, compelling voice "I let him go because you asked it of me, not because I agreed with you. I wanted to leap on him and tear him to pieces the moment he was brought before me for what he had done to you. For the hours of fear he caused you. For the danger he put you in. For his cowardice in not returning immediately when he realized he had the key, if his story was the truth. I wanted him dead."
    "Wanting him dead doesn't mean you killed him, Nicolai."
    He spun around to face her, looking dangerous and powerful. "I don't care if I did kill him," he said, the words cutting deeply into her heart. "I care that I don't remember. I went out this morn, and I ran. I unleashed the beast to run free."
    She took a moment to compose herself. "Why would you use a knife, Nicolai? That makes no sense. If you used a knife, you would have remembered."
    He shrugged. "I remember last eve when he stood in this room and admitted he locked you in that storehouse, I wanted to shove my stiletto through his throat." His gaze met hers without flinching. "I won't apologize for who I am, Isabella. And I'll never apologize for wanting to destroy any enemy who dares to try to take you from me. I'll never apologize for my feelings for you. Not only am I willing to die for you, but I'm more than willing to kill for you. And I'm not apologizing for that either."
    "I've never asked you to," she replied quietly. She was grateful for her father's training, for the composure she managed when each of his revelations had shaken her to her core. "If you'll excuse me, Nicolai, I must attend mio fratello."
    He padded across the floor then, his footfalls silent, his amber eyes burning. "Not yet, Isabella. Don't leave me yet. I want to look into your eyes and see what I've destroyed between us."
    She titled her head, her eyes meeting his without flinching. "I don't think you can destroy anything between us. I love you with all my heart. All my soul. Confess all you want, Nicolai, show me your worst side, I will still love you." She reached up, caught his face in her hands, and kissed him hard. Her eyes blazed into his. "And know this, Nicolai DeMarco. Should the worst happen and the beast is let loose and destroys me, I will never regret what we share, what we are together. I love every inch of you. Even that part of you that is capable of destroying me."
    When she would have turned away from him, he tightened his hold on her and brought his head down to hers to claim her mouth. Love welled up, nearly overwhelmed him, nearly unmanned him. It swept through him with the force of an avalanche and shook him to the very center of his being.

Chapter Nineteen
    The knock on the door made Isabella's heart pound. It was loud, insistent, heralding grim news. Nicolai retained possession of her wrist but turned toward the sound, his face once more an expressionless mask.
    Captains Bartolmei and Drannacia hurried in, sketching quick salutes. "He's on the move, Don DeMarco. One of the birds has returned and brings word." Drannacia glanced at Isabella and bowed low, apologetically. "We feared the news couldn't wait."
    "Grazie," Nicolai said and bent unhurriedly to once more take possession of Isabella's mouth. "There's no need to worry," he whispered against her lips "I'll return shortly."
    She suddenly found that she loved the savage side of him, reveled in it. That part of him would enable him to defend their valley, defeat Rivellio. That part of Nicolai would keep him safe for her and return him to her. "I shall be very, very angry should you receive so much as a scratch from that hateful man," she cautioned him, keeping a smile plastered to her face in spite of the tightening in her chest.
    "And I shall be very, very angry