Page 82 of Forbidden

“Aye,” agreed Erik. “It was almost as though you knew one another.”

A chill went over Amber that had nothing to do with the drafts in the room.

“He looked familiar to me,” Duncan admitted.

“Is he?”

“If he is, I have no memory of it.”

“Amber.”

Though Erik said no more, Amber knew what he wanted. She laid her fingers on Duncan’s wrist.

“Was Simon known to you?” Erik asked Duncan.

Angrily, Duncan looked from Amber’s hand to Erik.

“You question my word?” Duncan asked savagely.

“I question yourmemory,” Erik answered. “An understandable precaution, surely?”

Duncan let out a long, hissing breath. “Aye. That is understandable.”

“And?” Erik prompted gently.

Amber winced. She knew Erik was at his most dangerous when he appeared most gentle.

“When I first saw Simon,” Duncan said, “I sensed danger like the shadow of a hawk.”

Swiftly Amber drew in her breath.

“In my mind I heard voices chanting and saw candles,” Duncan continued.

“Church?” Erik asked.

But it was Amber he asked, not Duncan.

“Yes,” she said. “It has the feel of church.”

“What else do you sense?” Erik asked curiously.

“Duncan’s memories stir, but not strongly enough to win free of the shades of darkness.”

“Interesting. What else?”

Amber glanced sideways at Duncan. He was watching her with an expression of growing disbelief.

“Think of the church, dark warrior,” she said.

The taut line of Duncan’s mouth was his only answer. Amber took in a ragged breath.

“I gather that whatever happened in the church was a special occasion rather than an ordinary mass,” she said faintly.

“Funeral? Wedding? Baptism?” Erik prodded.

Amber simply shook her head. “He doesn’t know.”

Duncan gave Amber a long look.