The Prize (47 page)

He glanced down at the beautiful woman climbing the hill at his side. He was filled with such contentment. Because he was a logical man, he tried to make sense out of what had happened to him. Nicholaa had made such blissful chaos out of his drawn map of life. He tried to reason it through.

Then he put the question to her.

Nicholaa laughed before answering him. "It's very simple, my love. You never had a chance." She reached up to pat the tiny scar on his forehead. Then she laughed again.

Royce lifted her into his arms and held her close. He would let her believe she had caught him. He knew better, though. He'd set out to capture a legend.

And that was exactly what he'd done.