Laurent was twisting the knife in, and Damen had to curl his hand tightly around the reins to find a measure of deliberation. His horse was sensing his agitation, stamping and tossing its head as the other beast came closer. Damen held him steady, chin raised proudly.

"I still do not know you well," Damen said, feeling the truth of that all too keenly. "I didn't know what you were planning to do with all these conquests. Surely not to betray me before my very eyes - I did not believe that you capable of that."

He could see that Laurent was still hung up on the word he'd bitterly jested with. Damen was not so very far from the feelings that had drawn it out of him in the first place. The coldness, the distance ever since they'd made love. And now this favor bestowed on everybody but himself. Damen looked troubled. "These were not the actions I expected from my newly wedded husband. I did not think I would need to fight for his affections anew."