Katelina forced a ball of nervous air down her throat and climbed slowly onto the bed until she was sitting next to Jorick. Her hands suddenly absorbed her interest as she tried to force all thoughts from her mind, especially the ones about how close he was to her.

He gently cupped her face and turned it towards him. "You don't need to be afraid," he said gently. "My anger isn't with you."

His raven hair fanned out on the pillow, thick and shimmery like some exotic ...