He nodded, beginning to wonder why she was so hungry for details. Was she vengeful, or bloodthirsty, or scared they’d come back? “I didn’t have much choice.”

“You killed eight men all by yourself?”

“Well,” Han said patiently, “I took them by surprise.”

“Did you…did you use magic?”

He shook his head. “There wasn’t any reason to. My bow was good enough.” When she said nothing, he added, “One of my teachers says that the most important thing a wizard needs to learn is when not to use flash. Otherwise, you’ll be caught without when you really do need it. You conserve it, you save it, and when you do need it, you use only as much as necessary.”

He stopped, knowing that was too much information. Why would she be interested in what Crow had to say?

“So, what happened after you killed them?” Rebecca prompted. She still seemed to be wrestling with the notion that he’d put eight men down on their backs with a longbow.

“I knew my only chance of saving you was to bring you to Marisa Pines Camp and to hope that Willo was here.”

“Right. You knew Marisa Pines,” Rebecca said, her brow furrowed. “Willo said you’d fostered here every summer?”

Han nodded wearily. It was so good to see her—he was desperate to stay awake and enjoy it—but all of this talking was wearing him out.

“But you were the one who saved my life,” she said. “You used high magic. That’s what Willo said.”

“Well. I realized that if I didn’t do something, you’d be dead before we got here.” He grimaced. “So it’s a good thing I didn’t use up my flash hushing those ruffins or we’d both be dead.”

“You nearly died as it is,” Rebecca said, taking both his hands. “I am so, so sorry. So sorry for everything.” Her expression said she was sorry for things he didn’t even know about yet.

It was almost like she was worried he’d think badly of her. Did she think he resented the fact that he’d nearly died saving her life?

It was worth it, he thought. He gripped her hands, pulled her face down close, and kissed her, long and slow, savoring it, despite his frayed nerves. She broke it off before he did, pulling back, her face pale, her green eyes large and haunted.

Maybe it was the aftereffects of the poison, but he found himself saying something he’d never ever said to any girlie ever before. “I love you, Rebecca. And I’m not sorry. I would do it all over again, even knowing the cost of it. I couldn’t face losing you.”