BOOK 3

Of course she had wronged Brand by keeping his daughter's birth a secret. But his suspicions about Gary and Fehx had been without foundation. And how could he accuse her of blackmail?

'Brand,' she said, not bothering to hide her resentment, 'I am not the juvenile idiot you seem to think me. I am well aware that affection, trust, love—whatever you want to call it—can't be won by blackmail or threats.'

'Good. In that case, don't ask for the impossible.'

A beetle ran over her foot. She kept her eyes on it because she couldn't bear to look at Brand. If she did, she knew she would see his mouth flattened into that familiarly adamant line. She had no wish to confirm that the bond forged between them by last night's loving had faded with the unforgiving light of morning.

'I'm not asking for anything,' she said.

She wasn't either. She would love Brand to the end of her days, but it looked as though her love had finally defeated her. Coming back had been a mistake. What she ought to do now was