"I would not be beaten by a girl," he declared. Well, except that once, by Morgause, but he had held back so as not to hurt her. Merlin had even (sort of) agreed. And she was a sorceress, so she had probably used some of her magic to help her win.
Of course, that was the answer. Maybe he would even believe it someday.
As she turned, something caught his eye. Frowning, he gently took her chin and turned her a little more, feeling the beginnings of a cold anger build inside him. "What's this?" he asked, setting a careful touch beside one of the puncture wounds on her neck.