Page 80 of Forbidden

“God’s blood,” Erik exploded, “do you think I’m as big a fool as you?”

“Erik, don’t,” Amber said urgently.

“Don’t what? Tell the truth? Your dark warrior won’t marry you until he remembers his past, and he can’t keep his hands off you longer than it takes to swallow. You’ll be his whore before the first snow falls!”

Abruptly Duncan dropped his hands to his side.

Erik saw and laughed harshly.

“That’s fine for now,” he said in a scathing voice. “But the next time she offers herself, can you promise you won’t take what she is so willing to give?”

Duncan opened his mouth to promise, but knew before the first word was spoken that he would be forsworn. Amber was a fire in his flesh, in his blood, in his very bones.

“If take Amber’smaidenhead,” Duncan said tightly, “I will marry her.”

“With or without your memory?” Erik demanded.

“Aye.”

Erik sat back in his chair and smiled in the manner of a wolf that has just harried its prey into a trap.

“I will hold you to your vow,” Erik said softly.

Amber let out a long breath and relaxed for the first time since she had seen the feral blaze of Erik’s eyes.

Then Erik fixed his gaze on Amber and she wondered if perhaps she hadn’t relaxed too soon.

“This Glendruid witch…” Erik said musingly.

Breath held, Amber waited. She had wondered when Erik would connect Glendruid with Dominic le Sabre.

And what he would do when he did.

“Do we have one like her among the Learned of the Disputed Lands?” Erik asked.

With an effort, Amber managed not to show her relief.

“Like her?” she asked. “In what way?”

“Red hair. Green eyes. A woman whose gift would tell her to send Duncan out with an amber talisman around his neck.”

“I know of no one like that.”

“Nor does Cassandra,” Erik said.

“Then no such woman lives among the Learned of the Disputed Lands.”

Thoughtfully Erik tested the edge of the silver dagger with his thumb. The runes inscribed on the blade rippled with each motion as though alive, restless.

“Cassandra’s prophecy at your birth is well known in the Disputed Lands,” Erik said.

“Yes,” Amber said.

Duncan looked at her in silent question.

She didn’t glance away from Erik. For the moment, she was focused entirely on the golden knight who had pulled his Learning about him like a cloak of fire, giving him a power that transcended even his position as Lord Robert’s heir.

“Your affinity for amber is also well known,” Erik said.