Anything to survive. Ailene knew what he meant. Sacrifice some part of her body to get a killing blow in. Blackthorne had never been in battle. Would he take the bait as she had? She started advancing, looking for anything.

"It's too bad you released her Stuart," Blackthorne shouted. "She's too good to disarm. I shall have to kill her. Instead of getting her back a little soiled, you won't get her back at all."

We'll see about that, you prick, Ailene thought. She engaged him in an extended attack, trying to get him to trip over the candle stand she'd thrown down before, but he shifted sideways so he...