General Terceira opened and closed his mouth like a fish gasping for breath. He looked from José to me, trying to form words. Rossetti came up behind him, putting his hands on the general’s shoulders. “When you deal with the devil, don’t be surprised by the results.”

Rossetti laughed as he walked past him for bandages to dress his own wounds. General Terceira stalked away. José turned to me. “Come, the men will take care of this. I have something I want to show you.”

“But I am dirty,” I whined as José pulled me to him.

“All the better,” he growled into my ear.

José and I rode through a twisting ravine covered in moss with a thick wall of trees on either side of us. Unseen birds high above us sang with an indifference to our horses as their hooves splashed in the stream bubbling through this peaceful paradise. Though the sun was beginning to set, the air still held the warmth of the late afternoon.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked as I urged my horse closer to José.

“You’ll see.” He smiled, looking back at me. As we rode up over the ridge, the valley that spread out before us took my breath away. The ravine opened up into a small cove, with a crystal-clear pool fed by a large waterfall.

“Beautiful, is it not? One of my scouts found this place, and when he told me about it I had to bring you here,” he said as he got off his horse. José began to take off his clothes. “Tesoro mio, won’t you join me for a swim?”

I peeled off my yellow dress, stained with blood and dirt, before wading into the pool after José. Goose bumps spread across my shoulders and arms in the cold water. “It’s freezing!” I laughed.

José waded back toward me, reaching out a hand. “Then let me help keep you warm.” He wrapped his strong arms around me, carrying me deeper into the pool. He pressed into me, my bare chest firmly against his. He kissed me tenderly. Closing my eyes, I inhaled. José smelled of gunpowder and earth, war and victory.

“I love you,” I whispered.

He kissed my neck, my jawline, my lips. “You are the queen of my soul,” he murmured into my ear.

I wanted him more than I had ever wanted anything in my life. He stroked my hair and face, looking deeply into my eyes.

I took his face in my hands, kissing him harder. He carried me over to a large smooth rock, and we leaned against it to make love. When we finished we lounged on the banks of the pool, entwined. I watched the stars as José lay with his head on my chest, his thumb making lazy circles around my navel.

“Tell me about Italy,” I whispered, afraid to break the spell of the night.