He had held her in his arms, had felt her heart beating against his breast, had kissed her lips and her eyes and her hair, and her response had been to place herself utterly within the shelter of his arms.

She had given herself to him and he was possessed of the strength of one about to fight for his own.

And with that strength the questions pounded again in his head.

Who was she?
And for what reason were mysterious enemies coming after her through the gray dawn?
In that moment he heard a sound.

His heart stood suddenly still.