"It wasn't Kalim's fault. I'll talk to Galen about it later." But not now, she was too impatient to put her own life in order. "Come, I want words with Galen before my father arrives." She moved across the chamber toward the dressing room. "I'll wear the emerald-green gown. While I wash and dress, will you choose a beautiful scarf to go around my neck and hide these bruises?"
She must try to speak normally as well. Galen must not be influenced by pity. Whatever his decision, whatever he told her, it must come from his heart.
"Go back to your chamber." Galen frowned as soon as she walked in his chamber. "Better still, go back to bed."
"Why? I belong here." Tess closed the door behind her and looked at him. "And I find bed very boring when interesting things are happening elsewhere."
For an instant a glimmer of humor eased the grimness of his expression. "I've noted you're not overcome with ennui when interesting things are also happening in bed." His smile faded. "I don't want you here when your father arrives. You've fought enough battles."
"But this is mine also. Where is my father?"
"He should be here soon. Sacha rode out to meet him and bring him to the palace."
"Then we'll wait together." She smiled at him. "I must be here to defend myself. After all, I'm only a helpless woman. How will I know you won't hand me over to him?"
"Helpless woman? You jest. All of the El Zalan are talking of how you arranged Tamar's capture." He frowned. "And I told you I wouldn't— Why are you laughing?"
"I feel like laughing, I'm very happy." She moved across the room to stand before him. "Tell me, Galen, now that Tamar is dead, the threat to the alliance is much less, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"And you don't really need me any longer to secure the unity?"
He stiffened. "I didn't say that."
"Then say it. Give me the truth."
His lips tightened. "No."
She smiled. "Then I'm free. After my father leaves, I will go to France. You will furnish an escort, of course?"
"No!" Galen's hands closed on her shoulders as he glared down at her. "You promised me—"
"A child? But you don't need a child now."
"I do need a child. "
"Not for the unity."
"No, but I… need that child."
"But you promised you'd release me when I was no longer needed for unity. Would you break your promise?"
"I told you… I need you."
"It's the act of a barbarian to break his word," Tess said softly. "Aren't you going to be civilized about this, Galen?"
His expression was tormented as his hands tightened on her shoulders. "No! I don't care if— You stay!"
"How long?"
"Forever!" The word exploded from him with such violence it reverberated around the room.
She beamed up at him. "Excellent." She hurled herself into his arms. "I feared you would make me ask you to let me stay, which would have been most undignified."
He stiffened in shock and pushed her away from him. "You wish to stay? Lord, I hope you know what you're saying." His big hands were unsteady as they cupped her cheeks and tilted her head so that he could look down into her face. "For I cannot let you go," he said hoarsely. "Even if it means keeping you here by force, as my father did my mother." He closed his eyes. "Dear God, what does that make me?"
"The man I love," she said simply. "And if God is good, the man who loves me. "
His lids opened to reveal glittering eyes. "Oh yes," he said thickly. "I think I've loved you from the moment I saw you clinging to Apollo in that damn bog. "
"That's most encouraging, considering I was dripping green slime and stank atrociously." She hurled herself back into his arms and buried her face in his chest. "It was as well we got the worse over at once. After you saw me like that, I was bound to appear to advantage in any other situation."
"Last night wasn't an improvement." His arms tightened around her. "White and still—your throat." He buried his face in her hair. "I swore if God let you live, I would let you go, but when I saw you walk into this chamber today…" He whispered, "I would have risked my salvation to keep you. I'm every bit the barbarian my father was."
"No." She pulled back to look up at him. "You're not your father, and you're not Tamar. You may be a barbarian, but if you are, I love that in you as well as all your other qualities." Her brow wrinkled as she searched for words. "Can't you see? We are what we are. I am too impulsive and blunt, and I like my own way very much indeed. Do you love me less for what I am?"
"No." A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Though I earnestly hope we can modify your impulsiveness in the future."
"It may never happen, as you may die still being a bit of a barbarian. It's the struggle to be better that counts, and we'll go through life doing that together." She hugged him with all her strength. "I think it will prove very interesting."
"Even if I can't promise you the freedom you wish here in Sedikhan?"
"You'll give me what you can, and the rest will be my battle." Her jaw set determinedly. "And that will be interesting, too, don't you think?"
He gave a mock shiver. "Dear God, what fate awaits us all? Poor Hakim."
"He deserves it." She waved an airy hand. "And so do the rest of you."
He threw back his head and laughed, his expression suddenly joyously boyish. "Poor Galen."
"No." She stood on tiptoe to brush a loving kiss on his lips. "I'll protect and love you forever and ever. You'll have no chance to pity yourself."
"Forever and ever," he repeated, his gaze holding her own.
It was a vow, and the knowledge filled her with such exhilaration, she felt as if she were going to explode into a million sunlit splinters of joy. "I could almost be grateful to Tamar, if he made you realize you loved me."
"I realized before last night. I knew when you fell off Pavda during the race and I thought you dead."
"I didn't fall off Pavda. You know I purposely—" She frowned. "You did? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Why didn't you tell me you didn't intend to leave me?"
"The bargain. I was afraid that—"
"So was I." As he saw her eyes widen with surprise, he continued in a low voice, "I've never been more afraid in my life. I couldn't believe you wouldn't leave me, if I didn't force you to stay."
As his mother had tried to leave him.
"I'll never leave you." She gave him a quick, loving kiss and then backed away from him. "That's all I wanted to say. Now, I'll sit down in the chair over there and be very meek and let you and my father have your discussion about— Stop laughing." But the next moment she was laughing too. "Well, truly I'll try to keep silent."
They broke off as Sacha strode into the chamber without knocking.
"What the devil is wrong, Sacha?"
Tess turned to face her cousin and instantly realized what had prompted Galen's question. Sacha's face was pale, his expression dazed. She asked quickly, "What did he say? Was he very angry with you?"
"Who?"
She looked at him, puzzled. "My father."
"Axel?" Sacha shook his head. "I don't know whether he is or not. He's not here."
She looked at him, stunned. "Not here? Did he send an envoy then?"