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In the beginning falling in love with her had absolutely appalled him, for he knew very hat he was He had tried to save Saain, only to realize he had not the slightest desire to live without her Her own love had never wavered, even when Samantha had finally discovered the truth about him, and faced the monster inside theshe loved theall the Kyn; she had stayed She had demanded better of him

For his part, Lucan had learned exactly what he would do to preserve and protect the love that had saved hi in his ared her back fro Kyn blood into her veins

While Samantha rested, Lucan usually went down to his office to work until dawn, but tonight he felt little inclination to attend to business He’d ed to keep his temper in check when she’d told hiift and her lack of concern over it still aggravated hi to it, but he wouldn’t be able to relax until Garcia hold where he could work off some of his frustrations and assess the new arrivals, and that here he headed

At Burke’s suggestion Lucan had purchased the five-level parking garage behind the stronghold’sthe open-sided floors with concrete walls, Lucan had been able to do as he liked with the interior The contractor he’d hired to cover the paved floors with many truckloads of earth had been puzzled, but no ner, the cabinetry installer, or the architect who had designed several auditoriu

Once the bare bones had been put in place, Lucan summoned his own hting, stocked the cabinetry, and designated the areas to be used for training and practice bouts While walking through the coneur under Richard Tre five stories of wide-open fighting spaces for his garrison’s use

Tonight the athered on the first level, where training evaluations custouard standing inside straightened and bowed

"Wait," Lucan said as the guard prepared to announce his presence He studied the rows of broad backs directly blocking his view of the dee?"

"Aye, uard said "’Twas from the visitors’ side"

Warriors in strange territory seldoarrison Whoever had started this had plenty of nerve--or was an utter fool "Which one uard looked uncomfortable "Their leader,He must have been on his best behavior when I received the beside the door and pulled it on "Stay here and say nothing of ree"

The guard’s eyes widened before he composed his features and nodded "As you say,much of his appearance, Lucan was free to join the crowd of h, wide circle drawn in the dirt battled tarriors with short copper-clad swords Both had stripped to the waist, their bodies blooded fro wounds that had already closed and vanished Froe; with their Kyn strength and ability to heal spontaneously they could fight for hours

His men and the visitors had divided themselves on either side of the circle, and cheered loudly whenever their coenerally fought with some reserve to avoid the infliction of serious injury, the two men hacked at each other with the kind of ferocity seen only on the battlefield

Sutton, a halberdier who had joined the jardin shortly after Michael Cyprien had granted Lucan the territory, displayed his expertise with the short blade by delivering a series of punishing parry and thrust combinations

The visitors’ man, the bullish warrior who had introduced hiility for his size It spared his neck fro skewered by the blade, and lent him the speed and position required to deliver a sideswipe that bit deep into the guard’s thigh

Several of the visitors cried out in one of the old languages for Vander to finish the work, but instead of pressing his advantage, the warrior stepped back and lowered his blade "Is there no one a faces of Lucan’s garrison "Or do you all waste your nights swilling wine and swiving wenches while your lord tag tails after that fickle ferew loud around him, Lucan turned to Piel, the warrior nearest to hio at hilove Lucan extended, and cleared his throat "Ah, forgive me, Suzerain, I did not see--"

"Blade Now" While Piel drew his bastard blade from its siloves The blade had soht to it, and had been e "Nicely balanced Turner’s work, I presume?"

"Aye, my lord" Piel appeared ready to choke "Do you art yourself?"

"I wouldn’t need a sword for that" Lucan pushed his way through his garrison to the front Before he stepped into the circle, he spoke in a low voice to two of his guards "Graydon, McNeil, come and take Sutton to the infirmary"

The two men hurried out to lift the wounded Sutton between thearrison, noare of Lucan’s presence, fell silent