Lifting his arm, he turns his left hand over. "Never before had I suffered such a defeat."

"Never?"

"No."

Her hand finds his, little electric tingles shooting to his fingertips with her touch, and his own power reciprocates.

She gasps.

"You human females are unique," he says, pulling her closer.

A nervous tongue darts out to her lips as her heart pounds against his sternum, but she doesn't look away. "Unique?"

"Mm." His arm circles the small of her back. "If it had not been for you, I may have never considered the child who foolishly sought to save me."