Black Moon Draw

But the intuition that did him so well in battle was . . . addled. Unclear. Hesitant to judge the woman who was supposed to be something she was not. He had to protect her despite her foolishness. The possessive, protective instinct was new, one he never experienced towards a woman.

Turning away, he planted his hands on his hips and stared at the fire. By all rights, he should leave the hold.

He heard her stir and prepared to give her a tongue-lashing she would never forget.

"You die in the battle with Brown Sun Lake."

His words stuck in his throat. The Shadow Knight faced her.

The battle-witch was sitting up, seated with her legs crossed beneath her. Her drunken gaze was on him, or rather, in his direction. She didn't seem able to focus clearly and was rocking.

"What say you?" he demanded.

Her brow furrowed. "N. . . nothing." The answer was slurred, unlike her previous words. "You can read my . . . mind."

"Nonsense."

"What did you think I was . . . said?" she asked.

"You said I died in the battle with Brown Sun Lake."

"Exactly!" Excited, the battle-witch climbed off the bed. She took two steps then tripped and landed on her knees.

He watched her suspiciously.

Climbing to her feet, she took a deep breath and focused on his chin. Or maybe his neck. She was weaving. He doubted she knew where she looked. She clearly was not sure on her feet.

"Battle of Brown Sun Lake." She pronounced the words carefully. "You die."

"Your mind is not right."

"Righter than yours!" she retorted. "You know what else? The Red Knight threatened to kill me, and if he decides not to, it's because he wants me to take him back to my home world so he can find the person who sent me here. Like that's even possible. He's not real!"

"Not this again. Woman, if you-"

"No! You listen! I am so sick of being ignored or put down when I know I'm right! I am from a different world and in that world, you aren't real and you die in battle!" She started forward and tripped.

The Shadow Knight caught her this time, and she leaned into him, her soft body melting against his despite her anger. He wrapped both arms around her, plagued by the compulsion to do more than hold her steady. It took great will to keep his hands from roaming her form. "You make no sense," he snapped.

"I make perfect sense." She tossed her head back to glare at him. "You wear a boar head and refuse to marry your betrothed!"

Failing to see how that was an insult or sign of his nonsense, the Shadow Knight pulled the necklace from her bodice with his other hand.