He felt the tic working in his jaw as he forced himself to answer her question. "The tapestry was with her when she died. I tried to return it to my family, but they wanted nothing to do with me. I couldn't stand having it around me, so I took it into the future where I knew someone would preserve it and make sure it was honored and protected as she should have been."
"You plan on taking it back after all this is over with, don't you?"
He frowned at her astuteness. "How did you know?"
"I would say I'm psychic, but I'm not. I just figured a man with a heart as big as yours wouldn't just steal something without making amends."
"You don't know me that well."
"I think I do."
Sebastian clenched his teeth. No, she didn't know. He wasn't a good man. He was fool.
If not for him, Antiphone would have lived. Her death had been all his fault. It was a guilt that he lived with constantly. One that would never cease, never heal.
And in that moment he realized something. He had to let Channon go. There was no way he could keep her. There was no way he could share his life with her.
If anything should ever happen to her ...
It would be his fault, too. As his mate, she would be prime Katagari bait. Even though he was banished, he was still a Sentinel, and his job was to seek and destroy every Slayer he could find.
Alone he could fight them. But without his patria to guard Channon while he fulfilled his ancient oath, there was always a chance she would end up as Antiphone had.
He would sooner spend the rest of his life celibate than let that happen.
Celibate! No!
He squelched the rebellious scream of the inner Drakos. For the next three weeks, he would guard her life with his own, and once his mark was gone from her, he would take her home.
It was what had to be done.
After they left the bakery, they spent the afternoon browsing the stalls and sampling the food and drink.
Channon couldn't believe this day. It was the best one of her entire life. And it wasn't just because she was in Saxon Britain, it was because she had Sebastian by her side. His light teasing and easy-going manner wrapped around her heart and made her ache to keep him.
"Beg pardon, my lord?"
They turned to find a man standing behind them while they were watching an acrobat.
"Aye?" Sebastian asked.
"I was told by His Majesty, King Henfrith, to come and ask for the honor of your company tonight. He wishes to extend his full and most cordial hospitality to you and to your lady."
Channon felt giddy. "I get to meet a king?"
Sebastian nodded. "Tell His Majesty that it would be my honor to meet with him. We shall be along shortly."
The messenger left.
Channon breathed nervously. "I don't know about this. Am I dressed appropriately?"
"Yes, you are. I assure you, you will be the most beautiful woman there." Then, her gallant champion offered her his arm. Taking it, she let him lead her through town to the large hall.
As they drew near the hall's door, she could hear the music and laughter from inside as the people ate their supper. Sebastian opened the door and allowed her to enter first.
Channon hesitated in the doorway as she looked around in awe. It was more splendid than anything she'd ever imagined.
A lord's table was set apart from the others, and there were three women and four men seated there. The man with the crown she assumed was the king, the lady at his right, his queen, and the others must be the daughters and sons or some other dignitaries perhaps.
Servants bustled around with food while dogs milled about, catching scraps from the diners. The music was sublime.
"Nervous?" Sebastian asked her in modern English.
"A little. I have no idea what Saxon etiquette is."
He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers, causing a warm chill to sweep through her. "Follow my lead, and I will show you everything you need to know to live in my world."
She cocked her brow at his words. There was something hidden in that. She was sure of it. "You are going to take me home at the next full moon, right?"
"I gave you my word, my lady. That is the one thing I have never broken, and I most assuredly would not break my oath to you."
"Just checking."
A hush fell over the crowd as they crossed the room and neared the lord's table.
Channon swallowed nervously. But she was there with the most handsome man in the kingdom. Dressed in his black armor and mask, Sebastian was a spectacularly masculine sight. The man had a regal presence that promised strength, speed, and deadly precision.
He stopped before the table and gave a low, courtly bow. Channon gave what she hoped was an acceptable curtsy.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," Sebastian said, straightening. "I am Sebastian Kattalakis, a Prince of Arcadia."
Channon's jaw went slack with that declaration. A prince? Was he for real or was it another joke?
He turned to her, his features guarded. "My lady, Channon."
The king rose to his feet and bowed to them. "Your Highness, it has been a long time since I've had the privilege of a dragon slayer's company. I owe your house more than I can ever repay. Please, come and be seated in honor. You and your lady-wife are welcomed here for as long as you wish to stay."
Sebastian led Channon to the table and sat her to his right, beside a man who introduced himself as the king's son-in-law.
"Are you really a prince?" she whispered to Sebastian.
"A most disinherited one, but yes. My grandfather, Lycaon, was the King of Arcadia."
"Oh my God," Channon said as pieces of history came together in her mind. "The king cursed by Zeus?"
"And the Fates."
Lycanthrope, the Greek word for werewolves, vampires, and shape-shifters, was taken from Lycaon, the King of Arcadia. Stunned, she wondered what other so-called myths and legends were actually real.
"You know, you are better than the Rosetta stone to a historian."
Sebastian laughed. "Glad to know I have some use to you."
More than he knew—and it wasn't just the knowledge he held. Today was the only day she could recall in an exceptionally long time when she hadn't been lonely. Not once. She'd enjoyed every minute of this day and didn't really want it to end.
She looked forward to spending the next few weeks with Sebastian in his world. And deep inside where she best not investigate was a part of her that wondered if, when the time came, she'd be able to leave him.
How could a woman give up a man who made her feel the way Sebastian did every time he looked at her?
She wasn't sure it was possible.
Sebastian cut and served her from the roast of something she couldn't quite identify. Thinking it best not to ask, she took a bite and discovered it was quite good.
They ate in silence while others finished their meals and started dancing.
After a time, Channon glanced to Sebastian and noticed his eyes seemed troubled. "Are you all right?" she asked.
Sebastian ran his hand over the uncovered portion of his face. He felt ill inside. The harmony between his two halves had been disrupted by his inner fighting over Channon, and the pain of it was almost more than he could stand.
The Drakos wanted her regardless, but the man in him refused to see her endangered. The struggle between the two sides was so severe that he wondered how he was going to make it for the next three weeks without doing permanent damage to one or the other of his halves.
It was this kind of internal struggle that caused the madness in their youth. And if he didn't restore the balance soon, his powers would be permanently scarred.
"Jet lag from the time-jump," he said.