Her fingers uncurled and left the dagger lying next to her, inches from her hand. He was not like other lords. When he had spoken of his home, not knowing she understood, it was his brothers he spoke of – and the hills, the sky, the people and the legends. No word of a prized castle or manor, nor riches and comforts he sorely missed.

In the falconer’s house, he had said he regretted the dishonor he had done her. Because he would not dishonor her, a servant.

She looked at the dagger beside her as the light changed, dawn beginning to filter in at the edges of the tapestry over the window as the oil lamp stuttered and dimmed. To lie next to him made her feel fragile, exposed. Vulnerable. Which was not the same as weak.

Soon he would not be a prince. And now, next to her, naked in bed, he was her Welshman and nothing else.

She lifted the dagger, carefully and slowly, so as not to wake him if he slept. At the edge of the bed, just within her reach, was the table where all her defenses were laid. Dagger in hand, her fist touched the table, cool air on her outstretched arm and his solid warmth all around her. Then she let it go, setting it among the other blades, and pulled her hand back to rest beneath her cheek.

His arm lifted to gather her in, his lips pressed to her hair. He would be hers. Her Welshman. She turned to him, skin against skin, and clutched him to her with both hands open. There was nothing between them. Nothing but their mingled breath and the new morning light.

“Gruffydd! By God, it is good to see you at last!”

It was all Gryff heard before Will embraced him tightly, pounding his back and laughing. To his slight surprise, Gryff was every bit as glad to see Will, who had grown tall and handsome and powerful, but seemed just as eager and joyful as he had been as a boy. When he pulled back, Gryff could see him trying to rein in his emotion and put on a more sober face. It was unnerving, how quickly and easily he accomplished it. But it was good to know the old Will was beneath the mature facade, and happy to see him.

“In faith, I thought you had stopped growing,” Gryff smiled up at him. “But that was a vain hope, I see.”

Will’s eyes strayed to Gryff’s scar for only a brief moment before he blinked away his interest in it and smiled warmly again. They were in the yard outside the hall, standing in the midmorning sun with what felt like a hundred eyes on them. From the corner of his eye, Gryff could see Robin craning his neck, looking about.