Page 3 of Savage Knight
Chapter Two
Two Years Earlier
Lowen opened her eyes and glanced around.The cloying scent of gardenia floated in the air, the Las Vegas evening still blistering despite the moon high in the sky.Her thumbs touched each fingertip, trying to determine if she was dreaming or not.Her pale pink chiffon dress floated around her legs.The one and only time she wore this dress had been at her engagement party to Scias Mailliard.Many things seared through her mind, but the obvious was the fact she was alive.
Had her married life been a dream?
No.She remembered every miserable moment in excruciating detail.Her wedding night, when Scias had told her to disrobe and lie on the bed, only to climb on top of her and force himself into her body.The first time she burned the morning toast and he backhanded her.He made her scrape off the blackened section, then lick up the burnt crumbs that had fallen.The first beating when she’d gotten her period, proving she wasn’t pregnant.
Had her prayers been answered?Some divine intervention?
“Here, please take my handkerchief.A beautiful woman should never cry.”
Startled, she spun too quickly and lost her balance.Strong arms came around her, gently enfolding her against a muscular chest.She looked up, into brown eyes surrounded by the lushest lashes she’d ever seen.Rich chestnut hair held a slight, barely tamed curl.
She knew him.Remembered him.Evren Grenier.
In her other life, they had only brushed fingers as she accepted his handkerchief, so being in his arms was a new sensation.A spark of sensation traveled along her nerve endings and caused her heart rate to speed up, surprisingly not out of fear but with something different.Something unsettling.Whatever it was, she didn’t trust it.
“Thank you, Mr.Grenier.”
He didn’t say anything at first.Just offered her a smile as he studied her face.“You know who I am, so may I have the pleasure of knowing your name?”
“I’m Lowen Hayes.The unfortunate fiancée of Scias Mailliard.”
He frowned.“That explains why you’re crying.”
She gave him a wry smile.“Thank you for catching me, Mr.Grenier.”
“Please, call me Evren.”
“Evren,” she murmured.
He made sure she was steady on her feet before his arms slowly released her.In her alternate life, she’d written about this man.About the kindness she saw in his eyes, and how she wished he was the man she was marrying.Through the two years of her unhappiness, she’d often remembered this very night and wondered why she never had the backbone to ask him to rescue her.Now, she had her chance.She knew what would happen if she did nothing, and she refused to let history repeat itself.
“Would you...”She thought about how she should word things.“Would you like to know something fantastical?”
His eyes twinkled in the moonlight.“I love fantastical secrets.”
She leaned close.“I know the future.”
“Because your fiancé is an asshole?Sorry, I’m afraid that’s not that big of a secret.”
