Beloved in His Eyes (Angel's Assassin #2)(17)

Justina shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

“If I ever see the murderer, I will run my dagger through his heart!” Adam proclaimed.

“You weren’t there,” Justina said softly. “You didn’t see him.”

“I know. But if I did…”

Justina lifted her gaze to see concern wrinkling Aurora’s smooth brow.

“The world can be a dangerous place,” Aurora said. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”

Justina could only nod. With the haunting image of the dark eyes of the murderer and her father’s blood on her hands, a tremor coursed through her. The monster was here in Acquitaine, of that she was certain.





Chapter 6


Aurora spent some time with Adam and Justina before she was called away. She left them with Linda to see to their needs. After speaking to the head cook about the evening meal, she hurried to find Damien. She had a horrible, sinking feeling. Justina’s father had been murdered. And Gawyn had somehow known she needed a horse and men to guard the borders. Well, protecting the borders was his job, but was it coincidence that she had seen Justina in the village square and Gawyn had taken a sudden interest in her? Or was it more likely that it all had something to do with Damien?

She knew Damien would be at the barracks, supervising the training of the men. She sent a messenger to find him and bring him back to her. She waited for him in her chambers. She sat in a chair, facing the hearth. The fire reminded her of so many things, dark things. Roke’s castle in flames. Her father’s death. She had endured much to be with Damien. And she loved him so. It frightened her every day that his past might come back to haunt them. The darkness of what he had been might return to break them apart.

She knew for certain an assassin had killed Justina’s father from the way the way the girl described him. ‘He disappeared as quickly as he had come.’ There was only one assassin that Aurora knew of. It couldn’t be coincidence. Damien had to know.

She stood and began to pace before the hearth. She would protect Damien at all costs. The thought that someone might know who he had been…

The door opened, and Aurora whirled to see Damien entering. His strong gait, his powerful presence, should have eased her doubts. But this was her one fear, that someone would recognize him from his past. She met him halfway across the room, stretching her hands out to him.

He clasped her hands, his brow wrinkled with concern. “What is it?”

“Justina’s father was killed by an assassin.”

Damien straightened just a bit, his lips pressed into an even slash. His dark eyes stared into hers.

“Do you think…? Could it have been…?”

“I asked Gawyn to find out. I haven’t had a chance to speak with him.” He looked down in thought. “But the way she looked at me in the square…”

“Fearful,” Aurora added. “I remember.”

“I think there’s a good chance…”

Aurora stepped into his warmth, pressing herself into the crook of his arm. For a long moment, she didn’t say anything. She wanted to protect him so badly. He was no longer that killer. He was honorable and strong. Saved. Loved.

“She’s just one person,” he whispered into her hair.

Aurora pulled back, startled. “She was hurt by your actions. She is still hurting.”

Damien’s grip on her arms tightened. He nodded once. “I know.” There was regret in his dark eyes.

She had never asked him if he was sorry for what he had done. “Would you take it all back, if you could?”

“No.”

“No?” She pulled away from him, angry and hurt at his callous answer. “But all those people you killed, and the families you hurt.”

He stood, stoically, taking her reprimand. “I would not take one back. Because they all led me here, to you.”

Her heart melted. Tears welled in her eyes. How could she doubt who he was? How could she ever doubt how much he loved her?

“You are my life,” he said. “You are my redemption. I had to travel through that darkness to reach you.”

She reached for him, pressing her head against his chest as tears fell from her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t reach you sooner.”

He hugged her tightly, pulling her against him, pressing kisses to her wet cheeks.

She would never understand that part of his life, and he rarely spoke of it. But it was part of who he was. He had survived it and it had made him the man she loved. She looked up at him. “I’ll talk to her.”

“It won’t matter what you say,” Damien warned. He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “You know that.”

She did. She had discovered that Damien had killed her mother and she had rejected him with as much repulsion as Justina was doing. Only when her father explained to her that Damien was following orders, did she allow forgiveness into her soul. And, of course, by then it was too late for her. She was already in love with him. She lifted up on her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips. “She’s afraid. There’s still hope that she will see you for who you are now.”

Damien dipped his head, kissing the soft part at the base of her neck.

Aurora wrapped her arms around his neck. “And I think Gawyn could make her understand.”