QUOTE : Darius drained his wine and stood, leaving the half-finished bottle behind. “Well, I’m off.”<br /><br /> Shea looked up, a little surprised at the abrupt departure. Fallon, with his typical granite facade, didn’t even twitch. He took a slow sip of the wine and acknowledged Darius’s departure with a nod.<br /><br /> “Before I go, I suggest you take a look at your personal chambers.” With that last remark, Darius made his departure.<br /><br /> Fallon’s head tilted as he stared into his wine. Suspicion dawned on his face and he stood, making his way to their personal quarters without a word. Shea let him go as she calmly sipped her wine.<br /><br /> Three, two, one.<br /><br /> There was a crash in the other room and a stream of curses reached her ears. She trained her eyes on the front entrance and was only mildly surprised when no one ventured in to see if they were in any danger. Darius must have warned them. Smart man.<br /><br /> “Would you like to explain why there is a new entrance to our bedchamber?” Fallon’s silky voice came from behind Shea.<br /><br /> “You’re smart. I’m sure you can figure it out.” Shea took another sip of her wine.<br /><br /> He prowled closer, his movements containing a lethal edge.<br /><br /> “You were going to leave me.” He sounded like the very idea that she would contemplate such an action enraged him.<br /><br /> She raised an eyebrow. “Now why would I want to do that?” She gave him a long minute to answer. His eyes narrowed, taking on a dangerous glint “Ah, yes. Perhaps that’s because you treated me like a prisoner, having your guards keep me here whether I wanted to or not.”<br /><br /> He looked away. She felt a spurt of grim satisfaction. He knew he was in the wrong.<br /><br /> “That was for your own safety.”<br /><br /> “Bullshit. That was because you were angry and wanted to take it out on me.” She waited for him to correct her. When he didn’t, she continued, “I’m here because I want to be here. The next time you do something like that, expect me to be gone.”<br /><br /> She set her glass down and stood. Shea walked past an unmoving Fallon to their chamber, saying over her shoulder, “I suggest you station one of your men at our new entrance so that we’re not murdered in our sleep by one of your many enemies.