"You're embarrassed." Her brow cleared in surprise and amusement. "You're never embarrassed. By anything. This is weird. And kind of sweet." "I'm not embarrassed." Mortified, he decided, but not embarrassed. "I'm simply...not entirely comfortable explaining myself. I love you," he said and stilled her muffled chuckle. "You risk your life, a life that's essential to me, just by being who you are. This..." He brushed his thumb over her wedding band. "Is a small and very personal shield." "That's lovely, Roarke. Really. But you don't really believe all that magic nonsense."