Damian's Oracle

"You're getting braver, kiri," he said in a husky tone.

She tried not to let it affect her but suspected by his look of satisfaction that he saw how quickly her face changed colors.

"If you're half the man everyone tells me you are, you'll send Han some flowers. He's going to break his leg tomorrow."

"At your service, Oracle."

She ached to touch him but refused, hugging herself more tightly instead. Her nerve began to frazzle. She walked away.

"Sofia." There was a serious note in his voice that made her stop. His gaze was on her chest. She fingered the necklace there.

"The diamonds were a bit overwhelming for daily wear," she admitted. "I restrung it onto one of my chains."

He said nothing, and she saw the look that crossed his face, as if he wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Is that okay?" she asked.

"Very." He spun on his heel and left. She watched him go, admiring and puzzled.

"My dear Han, you were right about these damn moods," she said in the empty hallway. He was worse than a woman PMSing.

You're full of shit, he said into her thoughts.

She gritted her teeth, hating the fact he had open access to her thoughts and worse-he could respond to them!

"No," Pierre said, blocking the library as she approached. "I'm not wasting any more of my time in there."

"I have one more thing to do," she said, holding up her list. "Why don't you go spar? I promise not to leave."

He gave her a look of supreme distaste before he, too, walked away.

What was it with these men and their moods? She shook her head and returned to the library. In truth, it was the one place in the house where she felt safe and comfortable when she wasn't with Damian.