She held her high, not unlike what Damen might have expected from Jokaste in the final moments preceding death. Jokaste would not have dirtied her hands, however; but would have gotten someone else to do it for her.

Laurent stepped closer, an easy movement as he continued and at her invitation for Laurent to join, Damen's hold tightened. His eyes met Laurent's, part question and part challenge. As seasoned a fighter as Damen was, as skilled as he knew himself to be, he would still be no match against two armed with blades.

But he would not go easily, a fact Laurent would also know.

'Quite the invitation,' Damen remarked then, his eyes still locked on Laurent's. 'What do you say? Have any desire to peel more flesh from my bone?'