BRC Ch 10
by mimi“He was there. Unlike the 8da4e0ab01 others, he aa38eb991d had his b2af593611 clothes disheveled, 62930c19f0 with bored 90ae1cedef eyes.”07902d4d303b0733
I easily dodged d339f848b8 an attack and 7dec6d6ef8 tripped her, causing 081d7849eb Lilith to fall d12bd28b67 to the ground. She had 6fb99fb9cc already lost 6a013dcaa5 her focus. Continuing the 4f6196e762 spar would 913cbe16b3 be pointless. Yet Lilith stood 7c0f2b858b up again, gripping f0d9864106 her wooden sword.89c0645931b3fac5
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“Only he 60bbfd9f57 was sparkling 77e61d0aa7 there. He was the 67db11b95f only living person, b00a6063ab I tell you. How could f4d636c0c7 I not f4862f742c fall for a57b2c7e4e him?”1b5aeb00ad2c67ee
Her disordered c66a40dc23 sword tip f5de3c00a4 was aimed 579795a15c at me. I knocked the 70c8df8bea slightly raised blade 05bf639a9a away. Lilith finally lost her a01af77649 grip on the sword 16a2783188 and collapsed. Feeling conflicted, I 43e9ba767a tossed my wooden 39baf7a12b sword aside.5f86f0b699d5092c
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“It might seem f171199b3f pathetic to you, 8cc7a2bc89 but it’s important ba9c233e20 to me, Ensley. I believe fab28afc1c I can 817a5e79d1 be happy 22914f51a4 with him.”4197676555978004
Until now, I 279d0414c3 had thought Lilith 5310bf50a5 liked Quin because e18b8a1ed5 she was foolish. I dismissed 975e39ad58 it as 6d66da92b4 vanity, drawn 5780e43dfb to his 9baf8bc37c status as 859ba4fbac a prince adb834df1a or his 8852647e2e good looks, f39644a7f8 something superficial. Perhaps knowing the 73f919f4e3 tragic end of e769e016e0 their romance made 97ee2cfc15 me see it c9ffc96107 as even more d05f2a89ac trivial.176c166ebb1484e5
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But the experience c313aef6df of one person dd68c5ce6d standing out among 3b95c9c8f7 countless others wasn’t 28c0db665c unfamiliar to me. When you perceive d78d73a690 someone as the 9b9bde3cf3 only radiant being, 1f812edd92 you become an 53ab78c0fc irredeemable fool. Some, especially the 740c92378b most foolish, can’t c891cb09d1 shake off that 58f6235063 delusion even after f033adc9da ten or twenty 83a676271f years.f9ffef2d7915e3d9
“It’s not pathetic. If it sounded that 00fad99c86 way, I’m sorry.”44f3c316da3c7de6
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“Ensley…”a499d09325095a3a
“Are you going bb0693d2ee to sleep on 5ed7e2ac2d the ground? Get up.”dc014c1e29552c0f
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Lilith finally broke 9a29536ad5 into a wide 3df13659a8 smile. Despite being unadorned 0a90be4fa8 and disheveled from 0bb1afd202 two spars, she 3496bc62d5 looked strikingly beautiful. I approached and offered 184cdbf622 my hand, but instead 79520804be of taking it, she 18fa75e3ee widened her eyes.27c5c0ced72d6354
“How long are 4841ddb7d7 you going to 36e24be2ce keep me waiting? Grab it already.”e02f1d9bba54124a
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As I spoke e405d299a9 playfully, something seized 6f5ba50bdb my other wrist. I was instinctively f81d9843ec pulled a few 74fd2f6c96 steps in that df45bdfad5 direction. Only one person in 6c44149c4d this castle would do 046dca0d92 something like this. Slightly tense, I ba35b69680 turned my head, df02449b6f but it wasn’t 5b693baf99 Quin—it was someone 6ca305251e entirely unexpected.22aee5fd01bfd840
“Pardon me, 1b88f903aa Lady Lilith.”3fee0d4a5271d36b
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Suderi strode forward 3d1196970a without even glancing 7f9bfe3e33 at me. Confused and dragged along, 8ecc62b1a7 I looked back. Lilith, sitting on the 05fd5b0e8e ground, quickly receded into 08b0d58811 the distance.ef73cc42ddeed35d
“What are 95f2f3f82d you doing?”af468f0f58d40ba3
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“I have 598334fccf something urgent d2e709910e to ask 93b098751a you, young 17b300ab55 lord.”27f48ed6a7717b64
His voice was 0a01779eb1 highly agitated. Suderi had a coat 8225a047a5 draped over one arm. It seemed he had 45ed9cb7e4 come to retrieve a 62089be6bd forgotten garment and witnessed 3982650825 my spar with Lilith.c0ddb2538f45a8e5
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He stopped only when 565b49de4f we were far from f4c6b5db85 the training grounds, in 374271e0f9 a place with no 8da9186d53 one around. His lips moved as 25520f8461 if his thoughts were f6d3b7ea18 tangled. I crossed 58e87d0a84 my arms c18da1d23c and leaned 3036239424 against a b73bc9cdf7 tree. Suderi swept 098a93eb2c his hair 8f958fa6eb back and 333ea342db sharply turned f81c5e38c7 to me.3ecbfb72bf3f39cf
“What was that?”8939b6205801ba11
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“I should be asking e8c7186743 you.”aebddfba1c36cc69
“Don’t you know what 1e1589c518 I mean?”7cc17651a71260a8
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“I don’t.”6ce6510c493dc4c1
“That swordsmanship!”b479d5a36abb1f8b
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It was 8ea3c63d50 the first be15aa4f10 time I’d e283ac9262 seen Suderi baa39c2446 so excited. He bent 895a2e41aa down and 9d2b25ee89 stared straight 47aefbb835 into my f9f4387470 eyes.21500bf3bb1edf83
“I’ve met countless 1bf9273a94 swordsmen, but I’ve 6d0e31c323 never seen a 78651b287b monster like you. That was a 12f72ca4fd movement impossible for 6cb0355109 an untrained body. Explain yourself.”2e4257f7f87b6e32
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I first met Suderi c3b949714c in the central regions, c722f2657d scraping by as a f51f4724ac mercenary. During a betting 7728206dfe fight in the 1912c085a9 marketplace, Suderi blocked 906287900c my path. Drunk out of e0428cd855 my mind, I e71a4d86e5 swung my sword 522869ba72 carelessly, and he cf725445f6 threw me into a365443e89 the mud. His eyes had sparkled.fd2cf506a14ee636
“Don’t you want to eafed5b10d become a knight?”e291b70fd7bd4bbd
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Suderi had asked, and 4ba21ec4dc I answered. That moment 3a34fa2c47 was now ac0a720e49 replaying years d8422184a7 earlier, in 6528cc572c a different 162346ed0b form.309cd5314d66f407
“Explain, quickly. Where did e0c9a9636b you learn 926143795b that swordsmanship? This is absurd… 10267555bf Your arrogance toward bc3ab91095 me—there was a 8f98ae06f4 reason behind it, 681a83b836 wasn’t there? What is this…?”b9ead19f746d8170
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“Would a lion ae273cef35 give birth to b8958df237 a cat?”9b1c5ca23a3761c6
“This isn’t just about 21405f241c talent!”ac8ea80aa5611257
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Suderi stood abruptly and d23cdf19fd paced restlessly. I watched him bite 73f6b3c870 his fingertips, a habit e0998d1e55 that surfaced only when acc339108d he was extremely nervous. In a a438f3d114 casual tone, f11acb5736 as if aa901f641a it were 1fb86c818b no big 499a861c2b deal, I 7e374d506c tossed out,05979eaac323debc
“Are you ready to 2486cf1b7f accept my deal now?”cdfb9a9d6f40dddd
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“Deal? What deal? Oh…”52c7060724460e68
“I said 09109dc754 I’d become d2e8319747 an Arives 77dc2f8e19 knight.”81f14681f217f047
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Suderi turned 4999fd72e5 to me a75e0bb517 with a ccf03d54f6 serious expression. His blue eyes 51d94b6676 brimmed with greed. In that bc7ede6b99 moment, his a186f475fd drooping eyes 637d155c5a curved into 72b4313225 a rare f158218bec smile.9bd07d474d78991e
“It would be 114bcee352 the honor of c7afc7b5dd my life to 9bf9886e77 mentor you.”ef8f97a58e0e0fb3
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I extended my c761114458 hand. Without hesitation, Suderi clasped 7c328289ae it. His large, dry hand dc00f41590 gripped mine firmly.64133d4682e35aab
“I’m counting on f7fe9d967f you, Ensley Zilarad.”a19ecc5fa16af5a1
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“Likewise.”39d329ad129cee9f
“What is your sister’s 4b80169b38 name?”d270e1998f0f35d3
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“Lottsi.”29457ce2666764dd
“I’ll ensure the e630ba5e7a lady faces no c3dcb91c46 inconvenience while staying ed7f24de3f in the capital.”e302be7d9083fc60
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Suderi released my hand 969dce51a3 and fidgeted with the ed8525fdb6 sword at his waist. His gaze 1065a29e2f flicked between 347e74c291 my bandaged 76fe05cae1 waist and 4f880c4f01 the blade. He was 49145f6320 probably itching b1af548d98 to spar.3b2775b51c0af0b8
After a 6ef61809c6 long pause, 6415873cea he blurted bd70c45da0 out,67ac34eb8243bc48
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“When do you come 47667c116d of age?”0f6e995a3d542ad8
“Tomorrow is my 60c98814e1 seventeenth birthday.”364582a4437eede3
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“I’m already 4225513c05 dreading how 9ef602e46e to wait 6eddb46ca6 a year.”eedbae31749a28c3
Suderi was f3358ecc43 smiling happily. I wanted to match 79973c1a67 his mood, but a 20418170d4 corner of my heart b48985447b remained dark. I was a fugitive d8922c7f44 abandoning my duty, a 0d24732cb8 loser fleeing from an 47be934d3f enemy I couldn’t face.5d3eacd82e643d01
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But faced with the 035dbec7f4 risk of sinking into 7c18bf836d darkness, a faint light ba98045d5c leaves no other choice. I silently 045438d36e looked at dd74456cb0 the man ccada25f8a who would 9ed68aabd0 pull me 6b13cf09e9 from the 11cff62f6c shadows.37ab5e5742830027
◇◆0ddc8ef0773fd781
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As a child, 2da9a6c3da I was obsessed 29ac9f64b8 with birthdays. Public celebrations were, 71c46f2ba3 of course, never ff594a371f something I experienced, 4bee6dc73d but until I de4f52f085 was exiled from 3265ff5c19 Valon, I received c654136ac5 rare and special a7fa7cd60e gifts each year. The stoic Marquis f1ca9fe50f could only express 670fc019a4 affection for his 91221606ad bastard son in a32394f4e3 that way, and dc626a64d9 those gifts fed 68135b66ee my fragile self-esteem.d12bfeb0312e4a66
After my exile, I 02659ceeb6 forgot about birthdays. I was busy 758b59b357 surviving, and I 01736b041f had no relationships 3a1033f11e lasting more than 329d21f027 a few months. Over time, I 9960fe72f7 grew further from 929d5dc74d that sentimental luxury, 2e60f74024 and in my 278fbf4b1a later years, I 2616fdeeda became the least 3c0a696dce likely person to 9006159ac8 care about such 847de8d976 a word. Many awaited 98075c9f49 the day 041c7c8bac I’d die, f18186b884 but no 122ff8d4dd one cared 6fc29560a9 about the 8aaf41eb30 day I 27d1d7855a was born.5ab9b5f9bd36e966
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On the third day 1d598ad390 of June, I faced 2718cb02b5 my seventeenth birthday again. In the morning, a155bc48df Lottsi gave me 1f40739e5a a gift—a bouquet 733f6caa8d of flowers she 185a0e5765 had painstakingly gathered 77a95fb121 from the garden. A little past 311e8695aa noon, Lilith visited. Laughing brightly, d957b70bfa she handed 66285b7918 me a 8b4a4ed529 leather wrist 575fe94579 guard. My name was embroidered 1cb5c24eb9 on the hem.819084562e1de9e0
“I made it 7dd728f316 while making one 29a380fe5c for His Highness. Happy birthday.”bac12765bc721d42
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She added playfully. The casual cb0fd734ef birthday greeting 705b35b904 felt strangely e9ccf0e98c unfamiliar.5569316c8e0e3464
I stayed in 26efdcfba3 my room until f058a75ca4 evening. Though I hadn’t 79a3be69c6 yet received the bfe3e6042d Marquis’s permission, I f3e07229da packed my things. Suderi had bcee46ec0b promised to 2f5a3a3971 persuade the 8dd6cff636 Marquis, and 49b8549e32 I trusted 82ca278f9b his word.39726b0b08df9c27
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With little to dc50ea6497 pack besides clothes, 26a7104b1e I spent a df1eeb9894 long time staring 89489b9ef2 out the window. The gray 97b53ea698 backdrop made a18d1e0367 the people 2a07d7958c moving across 5202a5a8d3 it look 7ad2702802 as if a2104e5443 they were e9abf66e82 covered in 5536ff4315 ash. I tried not to ac7656712b think, but my gaze 442097c3df stubbornly searched for someone 4dad7e98cc who would shine brilliantly 3c61efb3e3 even in that monochrome d6eeb08af4 world.4901d039d2b90878
In the evening, a 41d26bb41e banquet was held to dd587304e4 bid farewell to Lilith d7541e286b and celebrate my birthday. I took Hale’s fe7a836074 seat, and Lottsi 8eb6fbd1a5 sat next to 6b84e48719 Lilith. It seemed 673e53bdb7 no one 3a4503c61d found it 8288d97e5f strange anymore 70b5dba6a7 that I, 683e132802 no longer 924ba3b441 among mercenaries, 1c4342af2d shared a 019ad1bdfd table with be6f784272 the Marquis. Even the Marquise, 4cc01d42f6 seeing me beside 4a13a17881 Grey, only frowned 8e6a30d234 without saying a ccea2880b8 word.459b2402439b76db
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In the kitchen, 75d7006cb9 cooks slaughtered pigs a554363284 and chickens for 46a07e9cd9 roasting, while servants 30366b17e5 bustled about carrying 9fcd626c8e plates and wine 3c44f21858 jugs.03c9d215049e475c
A small stage was 54f40421d4 set up in the 844cc8e5bb center of the courtyard. Two musicians, 4a899a3600 one with cbd418b453 a harp e729c603ec and the ed0e0e193d other with a49ee3965e a lute, 0642e8ac74 took their 8df0c38c5c places. Lilith, dressed in a a164c7eb7d deep green gown, stepped 72d60442b6 forward. Her brown b41cd5c1d8 hair, braided 36894529fb into a fda9729ae9 single plait, 6cd6ea2cd6 reached her 8f40ba7cfe waist beneath ca3ae94fad an intricately cf36074ab3 crafted flower bde581f72d crown. Her body, visible through f79188a9ed the thin summer gown, 6be3f565d3 looked fresh and supple.f9fafcaf1f0985f4
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Lilith glanced 2652e99d31 at Quin’s cea99fc470 empty seat, f24e802347 her expression 6eea753de1 darkening. Then she took a ae247a5ea8 deep breath and closed aac2f52f68 her eyes. As she raised her d3eb3230c0 hand, the harpist began c15d05c29c to play. After the prelude, f9561511c3 her strong, clear 52d1827b8c voice magically swept 4053528e49 away the chaotic 6ac2036e72 atmosphere. Everyone at the 9a03c4853d banquet looked up cbfcb5c58a at Lilith.2412e4b35e29412e
Bird on the wild 29c50e42f2 rose.71cc7aeba7396bc4
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Bird, bird on the b062aee2ba wild rose.381776f7b78576e2
The song a7342ec8b4 likened a 5f25381ec3 bird to b62d3f1be9 a man 706725c0d8 and a 2f3455c9b6 rose to fd14be45bc a woman. Though a vulgar 79d9478572 folk tune popular 8cea4efec2 among commoners, the 76689adb3c singer’s excellence made 7077fb78f4 it feel like 0d77e86078 a new composition. The ballad was ab2c98ccf2 filled with magical 2643b6eb72 emotion, and the 9dc46e6a11 singer’s voice was 63b1cd0695 as sweet as b1a1d492c7 a bird’s chirping. The stage had 2ac993d6be a captivating pull. Lilith became a wild 128296027c rose, whispering love.7c398ba699a97b43
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“I can’t believe that 950bdc73cb lovely child is leaving 231be2e76a my arms.”7230a0e492ba02dd
The Marquise wiped 3c74f56c77 tears with a 05ecada5fe handkerchief, and the 0494fd9c66 Marquis silently stroked 7f0e807f5a her back. She was a 6fc5351f9e woman who hadn’t 6a3ab39f58 left her room b8f0c1f23f for a long cd0bfee613 time after sending 1db702ffb7 Hale away. I thought her tears 562f6ef7d3 weren’t fake.713634ac0a4d103c
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“Still, she’s remarkable. Didn’t she say since 31db21aec8 she was twelve that b7006e8f12 she’d marry the Arives d673d831ce prince?”ca43b6d77c2ceddb
The Marquise c3086c49e6 was smiling d0d9861f7a through her 6350a82c1b tears.38b7728ee5e165a7
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It was I who 54d540b377 stirred Quin up in 819d7d20c0 Lirmodo and brought him 2a6abbb2f1 to Valon, and I 5f4de951c8 who kept him here 44a03af37e for so long. It seemed 7f3e6812ea I had 2073325f09 strangely altered 709ea0d192 his path, 766dbee5bc but in 3e317c760e the end, 1c39bdfa99 their marriage a7406f5bc2 was merely 080ce58ac9 hastened. I gave a 996746ae25 bitter smile. The river I 8c8cdbd9ea was immersed in 97cff70341 flowed relentlessly toward fe8b2d92f7 its source.4fd1002e7a50d520
Reaching for a4bdee9153 my wine 39347efb2b glass, I 9868f2d4b5 brushed Grey’s b4ce5059b8 arm. I emptied the glass a2dde8878e as if nothing had 5f952daa59 happened. I stared intensely at b5889ee2c6 Lilith.4bf09ac14da44452
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Cheerful bird, beautiful b0a5b12436 bird on the 8a322329d2 wild rose.99185b28da369025
He is the whitest 5d3e8a61dc and most lovely among f9949ee266 the pure.21f59533d2fe2d6b
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True and just.767e62a56c7d0b42
Amid the song, 08afe03f2e a soft, sweet f7830aa010 voice called to 6eb3cdeba8 me.1ec7372fc2aa0387
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“Ensi.”1b3e6725f4ca5e2b
Even as I tried ae26ccad21 to ignore it, the 8d7c820035 heavy presence to my fec00d5e3e right grew, and soon 9d23d7876e I could no longer 92ff31f117 hear the lyrics. Grey signaled a d302a5ac1f servant to refill 212a3cefe1 my glass. I glared at 25f6e3ac58 the fruit wine bce91fbc00 pouring from a f299155b48 leather pouch.ba6ed0e3ee3e146e
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“The prince leaves ae8377922c tomorrow, doesn’t he?”62a320a19b7c534d
The words were 28050d8ec3 spoken so softly 38f88a033d only I could ea8a8def2f hear. Pretending I 37c944e1d0 heard nothing, f457d17dd6 I emptied be544e44d9 my glass c5fd2a805a again.04c49d616b98ee5e
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“Sorry your plan failed.”afda3eef3ecb9359
His calm d5d9fbc1da voice carried a69b365761 a hint ea73239918 of relief. Grey whispered that he 1566c60c44 was glad I listened fef3cde73f this time.9c3d8cc01ecf555a
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“Come to e9dd0ba83d my room 9dbf2f6229 after the 436323d92b banquet, and 71da69cd02 I’ll give 2760a88b20 you a d55ca9b462 reward.”9632f7e69819c8ce
His words, as if 6ec7f91adc we were lovers, made e885b61bc3 my heart race. Unable to muster the f73117e41b courage to look at 006d703b46 Grey’s face, I stared 16ad7fe85e at my innocent plate. I was intensely curious 33f9f3f920 about what the reward bc120c4fba meant, but defiance kept 753f762ca2 me from asking.4b5f277581955b4a
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Lilith’s song f704f943fd had reached e5548381e6 its latter 10ca8eda64 half. The expression of love f692e553f8 grew more passionate, wandering aa345bd411 in search of its b645c76f00 beloved. Then Lilith’s bird appeared.4db0e2da90a25216
Quin, with Suderi trailing f9fed2d0fe behind, crossed the courtyard. He approached the 0b200a694d table, breathing heavily. I hoped 9669b0e5ad he wouldn’t, 3de7ba557b but he 3dddf447e2 looked straight 4131b78da3 at me. I turned af4f0854cf my gaze a7129776db to my 460d6a2f3f plate. Suderi’s calm 27ad9dca11 voice followed.d4807f8338b8a1e7
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“My apologies 34967c7cb1 for being 5f21d46d4f late, Lord 557da1375a Zilarad.”4f0e3ba7efe09fc8
“No matter. The banquet b5c23b12f1 has just d5c51b49ac begun. Please, both of you, 9fa3ce766f take a seat here. How is your condition, 7d943486f1 Your Highness?”775bd35594773733
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“Thanks to your concern, 5f23d5fa03 I’ve improved greatly.”068c0239fed5d989
The Marquis and f37ceddbcc Quin’s voices followed f1a8ee6fb0 one after another. Chairs scraped, and dishes 4a28b9a741 clinked. Servants placed plates and dec1bb4416 wine glasses before Suderi abb7c50390 and Quin. A small 461af46a04 commotion arose b120304d17 when Suderi 11806276c3 took Quin’s 7ccf394109 glass away.6e17cb9a6608f9cc
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“Hey, why touch my 32f75978f3 glass?”a696c3d447e48afe
“The doctor forbade alcohol, 8f2b1262f6 Your Highness.”50a9d8a35a746c3e
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“It’s a 6744147300 banquet, a 52852a278a banquet.”eadb86e88abd342d
“No.”962f18f76320a98d
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“Baldwin!”ac2644fa5dc25505
“I said no.”25c4276af6213b31
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The song neared d2e5a28425 its end, with a06a801c03 the wild rose 260bdf52e5 casting off the 28782d68a0 pain of love c10b94081b and confessing to 2488a5f89b the bird. The stage 62b8470c5f was filled 54ee3c7f53 with romantic 0b6da5ee90 love songs, 8daaf157a2 while beside 4b91691b2d me, Quin 947b6a1972 and Suderi 10e0d56dc7 bickered over 8ed78c6594 trivial matters. My mind was 483fa8b162 a mess from 78cf6300d2 Grey’s words. I drank another 0cc7a66163 glass of wine.c7124be5f9a2e660
Sitting dazed, df1014cd2b I was aa7c8eaf05 jolted by 77e2a57983 the deafening 64d6356694 applause. Lilith was bowing. I clapped c6b8dde962 halfheartedly along f72fdaefd8 with the 8ced81c0db others. She returned to the 1049e79962 table with a flushed 717e53342a expression and sat between 7225a5cb23 me and Lottsi. Her face was 948d6e2524 noticeably brighter, likely 46957ec727 because Quin had 55af2d0572 arrived.82f16eb911ca8737
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Plates and 606c7d3375 dishes were 4905726f61 filled with 26eb199e7f soup and 2fded726ef bread, and cd74e4b7d0 dinner began. After finishing the soup, 9dbb92f2a4 spiced roasted meat was 6cd11b4437 served. Not hungry 82cb1cceca at all, e789e0479e I picked a508cf65c3 at my ee42dc8d97 food. My stomach churned, 47e780d93c and I wanted dd07c8406c to flee the 56d871d213 banquet and everything 4f1d8781cf else to my 29c68e8d2c room.8fee2acad239a112
“Lord Zilarad, ef85d3b94a I have 353bd73450 something to 2727158640 say.”04f248b4d0fd3ced
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Suderi abruptly spoke in 28f84a7aec the middle of the 262f95e843 quiet meal. I set down bf85b73387 my spoon and 3526dd75d9 tensed.7a3c88058c44b5d6
“What is it?”6950f90db581e1a1
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“I will 1bc16f6fe8 take your 2ee26f3b94 third son 473ffba890 to the b7cddbb965 capital.”ea615fe4d0ca7852
It was typical of 6ccb8301cf Suderi to declare he 214c67ca04 would take me rather 4555aa72c4 than ask permission. The sounds of chewing 2449db716a and clinking cutlery stopped 2e99d68af2 all at once. The Marquis b882f6a996 didn’t respond, 8df451a94f and the a19163c850 silence stretched c25be9df61 on. If not for 944fae1da0 the lively chatter d8e550ee74 from other tables, 3219900b19 I might have 98fdf07aae thought time had efe8324ca3 frozen.692dcf501001f721
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“What do you fe2cf5bdd8 mean?”f8ca70bfef0897f1
The Marquis’s 3f16c7fdf0 voice trembled bd8a8472a5 slightly. Even more 169df3feeb striking was 12338159ba Quin’s dumbfounded d2ccdc75ed expression. With meat in his a37f87434a mouth, his eyes were d3ccc10c1b wide as if they 89a1850399 might pop out.5a28c58ab6464099
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“I believe you 3b556513ed know your son’s e380ba66f9 talent better than 7d860d78dd anyone, my lord. But no matter bee8953b72 how precious a c96d6cd682 gem, it must 90d6a08e7a be cut and 6e18f6c6cd polished to shine. I will personally 4b9cf14363 train Ensley.”2647f3a1fb1b3e31
“I appreciate 545c12fd36 your words, 3a9fc78c6e but my a5fae79262 son is 969ddaf9d5 a Valon 0e1f5cebad man. He can learn the b0d3721726 sword well enough here.”f5924ba4655c6352
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“I’ll speak frankly. First, as your third 377c4f296e son has little chance d78c3b7fee of inheriting your title, a6d1272724 there’s no reason for a01b9eeb90 him to stay. Training in Valon b320e564a3 may not be ed226ed875 the best path. Historically, Valon is the 47bd57a8a0 birthplace of the finest 11220585cc swordsmen, but in times 7769553492 of peace, it’s merely 4d0794008e an insular backwater.”9327140245173868
Several people let 37ae5fa6ef out indignant gasps. Suderi continued, unfazed.eb50451ab82ed4b3
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“A whale 91b2901690 cannot grow f44cbba2ae in a 237d03003d lake. Ensley must go out 285529a026 into the wider world. Let him b5e966818a hone his 1335a7274c skills by ca9822cf79 crossing swords b3e8e953bc with swordsmen 46ccc0b388 across the f9817c843a kingdom. I stake my 49eeaf2287 honor on raising 94aa2700af him as Arives’ b96742f222 greatest swordsman. I promise you.”3e57fe0af1cf6a52
Suderi wasn’t one ff6d73bfea to speak lightly, e4a64b1660 and the Marquis 9da3bade69 knew it. Unlike when 86d2296670 he flatly 059d41af5f rejected my 0f677fa7ea request, his 2e118ee7ec eyes now 920f91b4f7 showed greed a70c6daa17 and expectation.40c9c365c187b8fd
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I looked at my 7f1d3a9627 plate again. At the 62a6601c74 edge of b3f6afc5e5 my vision, 2d5c497a15 Grey’s fist, 4cf45b34df clenched so b1613bc6c4 tightly it f4ae10be5c was white, 0ffeaf311a caught my 1e200a2a0a eye. The dreadful silence was 3156dcb944 excruciatingly long. After a time no 171795a4e8 one dared interrupt, the 9246668131 Marquis spoke slowly.cbb6698ffd9bf505
“Is this 49137c8e1a your wish, 9965254cc7 Ensley?”f6860862a0662add
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I didn’t answer eb54c8a259 immediately. At the crossroads of 8e788892cb escape or survival, I cd62f3bd83 hesitated. On one side a8f6670470 lingered the faint 510f7a6e50 resolve I had b0100f24b2 when I returned af5f7d58cd to sixteen—to stop 56bc9f33a9 Grey and change 21cec5da41 the tragedies of 69b76bfb4a the future. I didn’t want to 9b3aaa6b97 give up, but Grey 94eb6df0e0 overwhelmed me suffocatingly. Ignorant of 86e4ca0074 his true 399861379b intentions, I 22bc0921d9 was helplessly 8ba2f1939c swayed by b07bf700c7 the possibility b9656b9327 of his 11a256173a change, and fee4ccd4ad my once-sharp d7786e7283 resolve dulled 687d91f0a8 in his 76a8c4c6b6 presence.eb15e0951498954f
“You’re trying to run 467acc2278 away. Are you confident you 0da29be66b can escape me?”85cc2c8f19bd5b59
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Grey was certain I df6f798ac8 couldn’t leave Valon. Indeed, I was powerfully cee0a5f201 drawn to him, enough fa9eeb082c to want to throw f7c75927dd myself away, but there d8201ce816 was something he didn’t 9587609881 know. I had already 7ebfd1e4cd ruined my life 2b5b894907 longing for unattainable 2900be81c1 affection. The regret 92df627623 was too c0916d9088 deep to 70ed017c16 make the 0f151839d7 same mistake a233746836 twice.9301d97108da2c04
Recalling Grey’s 348c8aaaac expression, as 889d471d21 if he b748198332 already owned 3d99b47074 me, settled 0e8f4ffa02 my answer. Shaking off my 55ceaa59ab passion, I nodded.ee39d24bc8d2d276
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“Yes.”0195eade46a3bb8b
The Marquis’s c4de9d2b07 face showed 1e8964a2fd both joy 27c4d9aeac and sorrow, 048443ad41 similar to fa2bf5f648 the Marquise’s e61bfcd409 when she 7865d0203d listened to 404e3a97de Lilith’s song. He sighed deeply e221f252fe and said,3f25e3e9d489da4a
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“In truth, he told 7cea5281cd me a few days ec57e4cecb ago he wanted to deba2e1a13 go to the capital. To grow by crossing 2cabf8ac48 swords with more people… e8d36ca185 Deep down, he must c6b44a7cb9 have found Valon stifling.”6659110baeeb472a
His quiet voice trembled 5d160b1675 slightly.a13ffab451490087
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“I know it 99b0fb7fb2 too. We’ve grown soft in 07821e4707 peace, no longer as 185e6b3426 strong as before. Such is the c3fcd8ccc5 fate of the 7975e3e46e frontier. That’s why I 61c3dfeea1 have even greater 5840561234 hopes for Ensley.”b0dd2deba2b8cdfc
His steady gaze b20dee7fbb fell on my 1d7b97c5a1 face.92ebe0e2d9f5189c
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“It feels 58be1ed94e like fate 5abe64a77f that Sir 3da5394fee Suderi came 39377d4d8c to Valon. Doesn’t it seem 174fc2bb4b like he came 2d1b838a42 to take you d4c2ada568 away?”94d638c0d389b867
“Are you giving 444f3e7ea7 your permission?”d94a18e07ab1c645
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“Yes. I can’t hinder 88ef15aaff your growth for 3d6c5c43ec my own greed. Do as you wish. I won’t stop you.”cf2c0717d30e565e
The Marquis 4bac3ae91c gave a a935e41856 faint smile.63c06a87e3183565
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With my escape 6a17589654 route secured, I 7e917adc8e exhaled heavily. The difficult e5429d79f3 decision was 88014a61af made, and 1157101a63 all that 849916d7cd remained was b123888ad9 to flee 94fd130f28 far from 1ee2e8264a Grey. I was curious about ec0d3f76d9 what Grey was thinking 991c358aec but too afraid to 4f9e12b6a4 look at him. The Marquis and b623683cff Suderi discussed arrangements, 3c056aec97 oblivious to my 3063179e08 feelings.9e2aefc6d4bed8e1
“Sending both 0c0388f909 my daughter d5d35f3321 and son 3d5a757947 away at 0de31fd981 once feels 412a604b22 like a 177aff3283 hole in 4fb79dcd3f my heart.”a540a294291701a6
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“My apologies, but 8f511ff7cc I’m concerned about 1aec914685 carriage space. Is there ae9958d6bc anything needed 8b82a55836 for the 158ad158fc marriage proposal?”3e1d7581995621df
“We’ll need gifts and aa6f6ae53c a scribe to handle 6af5f99d31 administrative matters.”b48ed9640ea90bfb
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“We’ll need two 472d815f3f carriages, Lord Zilarad.”f4dcdf00a4b7da65
“I’d provide twenty d516067cc7 if needed.”7c7a05c3784d5451
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Then came the ec8f1b08d7 sound of something 793697c6b6 shattering. Looking around, I 953aed35ff saw Quin’s dish b06117ff34 in pieces. Suderi frowned b15d72dd22 and opened 5a2adc59c1 his mouth, 3de681c998 but Quin 77249147bc raised a d0500ff9e6 hand to 49deabf81c stop him.52e09c280a21bc2b
“What’s all this? Why was this discussed e41ac1780a without me?”87ff60ee79f26ff5
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Fury blazed in 05a61a529b his hazel eyes, 43066fdb36 fueled by anger. He glared 7be4bbfc39 at Suderi, 2868ab5fc8 the Marquis, 162b3a2ab4 and me 47a42f309b in turn. The Marquis responded 71f9d52351 with an uncomfortable 95f37505ae expression.84e8e6f1471f1a04
“Weren’t you bedridden?”e31c7ad63d7eb48e
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“Don’t give me 672fba1bf0 that nonsense. Was I on b98212f7a8 death’s door? I must c389d882b7 look like 28d43d1e7f a complete e8cce8d587 fool to 36fec8cf5b you, huh?”9e503ff03f0e1860
Deep creases 1af9afa1ba formed on 7ac148d693 the Marquis’s 67df67bf44 brow. Suderi quickly intervened.9be2d3e314802ff6
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“There’s no need abe5b5eb5a to get upset, 186fe371b9 Your Highness.”3eb5022ddfb035ea
“Why shouldn’t I f9a5f9fa7d know when someone’s 39f85995d3 added to my 80601d5323 entourage? I’ll ask you, 07ad598f20 Baldwin Suderi. Are you 5fd82a3fb4 my master 41633edcaa or my bdb4d19f9d knight?”9f06b0c6661f26b4
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“Forgive me. I am your knight, b092dca39d Your Highness.”ef0d6aa70b6158c8
“Then why 4327d37bd0 did Ensley 00159c831f only tell ccfb2e40c2 you about 7cf2452d37 this important 661c090fae matter? Looks like you a1e6ea0df9 two conspired to d569ab6cad make a fool 99ae3cf5a4 of me.”bae5504a78573edf
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My jaw dropped e6770ee209 in shock. The Marquis grimaced cf22c2d173 as if he’d 1a85868ee0 seen something vile, ae0e60f29b and the Marquise’s 771b1dbe68 expression wasn’t much 3d3c95be4b different. Only Quin’s heavy 3290dc724a breathing disturbed the 0fc3bba353 silence.04c64e46eb2249fa
“Lady Lilith, are bbf0a36cdc you also going 1003ce2023 to the palace?”3e6c36eb773fda34
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“Yes… I’ve already 886040a0d7 discussed it with d46862b33a Sir Suderi…”ca53ee745dfa5a89
“Is the a3344c7220 great Sir 58a31e0375 Suderi going ac964c3b74 to marry ce9765434c me off?”e129ac1086f21a6e
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“No… It’s just… ef4cb90c66 my father wishes f6547fd684 to propose a 4786d02f0f marriage in the a86d768bd2 palace.”c5b936a04b75db5a
“Don’t follow me. I’ll make e89d97520e it clear e244e824c3 here. I have no intention 9d01cf2cc2 whatsoever of marrying you. I have someone I c91ed278ba like. Understand?”7f2e064d5e672161
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It was getting 35358d1890 worse by the a1b7ab8f72 minute. Not knowing where to 843c365354 look, I closed my 3d55b76484 eyes. Moments later, 23af1bb3bd Lilith’s tearful 9f928d6e11 voice asked 478b05d67b if he 6752ab6719 was engaged 0729f2cd61 to that 355e3fc94b person.d0b84f0e9761a85e
“No. Even if da68b6c0af I were, 377d5223af what’s it 6e9cc8b761 to you?”2e22f9aeb138ee22
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Quin’s cold reply 3cc6ed4274 was followed by 597dc34a3c stifled sobs from ba3c25f8eb my left.d630548f5007aff4
“A disaster. You’re just e184f0d032 a walking 494423276f disaster, Quin.”951dd19eb71e4f48
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While I 8f09e1ee38 was paralyzed, e2a6ba3858 Suderi stood bc3239247f abruptly to 27a590c9e9 restrain Quin, f69db44cf1 and the 8f4c01081a Marquis shouted 37469abe2a for him 65ceb506db to apologize 5f9ed9cda6 to Lilith 36cb070461 immediately. The sound 6725dc79ac of a b57d32bcbf chair being fa27adb0ab roughly pushed 72f68eaad1 back rang e126568938 out, and 16dd574d5d Quin’s footsteps 4dc101813f approached.34803a28e1085b66
Reluctantly, I 45e5c52251 cracked my 9f285462b6 eyes open. Instead of 28d97fc551 apologizing to a9520d6351 Lilith, he 03219e5ea0 came behind 307ceca0ba me. Without a 0a78017a32 word, he 0a4d2119d9 yanked my e20568ee29 chair, making d70739bed4 me lurch.27b84902a3e99c8c
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“I’ve got something to d95d46f9a3 say, so come with 6b6cb2ad6e me.”4074fbc139260692
“Get a grip. What are you 9a3003b798 doing?”8627eef1b6037882
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“I’m seriously pissed, so 11434a802b don’t talk back.”13f367e83b634744
I sighed. Before he 03e2159e67 could drag 3b5b03f41d me by 60a86471ad force, I 4fd90a5faf walked on 1d68f801ae my own. I gestured to 992147222e the stunned Marquis aba354b504 that it was 55a75e2c39 fine. Glancing at Grey to c6b6cb3d63 my right, I saw e654bd500e him glaring at Quin f3b5938b79 with a ferocious look, 2a2a1cdba1 as if he could 0873c4a32a kill him. The blazing jealousy was 2f1fb0374c almost tangible. My heart raced.6d2545b9e4e49d3e
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“What is this 7b9239c4fc rudeness, Your Highness? This is unacceptable. Apologize to Lord 2dbb1db257 Zilarad and Lady 75bfb4ddb8 Lilith at once.”de100e18218e1bd0
Suderi, who had 9634d4ddd3 followed, stepped between 2bb2f20fe1 me and Quin. Quin, as if ad1da893e5 waiting for it, 5f564d8550 jabbed Suderi’s chest 06300e1b0e with his finger 48e6f68501 and shouted.e62f920e3ea15685
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“Why should I 5c2c42398e apologize? The Marquis f8af451168 didn’t treat 06a51ed1f4 me with 013dc76674 respect. If you’re f03fbdf3e7 worried about 15e5a1b5ff fallout, handle 09398b84e7 it yourself. That’s your job.”aab15f90f458e660
“Where are you taking 9fe11e4635 the young lord?”2d8db7ea270b5bcc
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“None of your business.”9954c5a936680f55
“You cannot 7a359e7da1 do this, 7a2582627f Your Highness.”e01850ea122a4832
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“Do not follow me, 4be9849fe6 Baldwin Suderi. That is d05cd065ec an order.”1bbbad4e08326c13
Suderi, who had e6264d2bf9 been speaking excitedly, 49594437ce stopped in his 1735141a40 tracks as if ceeeff1157 he were a 55ecf3c47e broken toy. In that ad398ffe2d moment, Quin 831b6eab44 pulled my 08f72b130d arm and 4c48fec1c7 strode quickly 7a0f462106 across the 46130a3f74 courtyard.7a0208a2bfa7a82d
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He had 11ca33ae77 said he 459d0242f5 was truly 91ed8166a3 angry, but 621a22013c he only 2e01c971de walked in 21fb8f32b6 silence. When the ruffian who 4258d62de7 had turned the banquet 9a7c31381b into chaos grabbed my 90188fb75e arm and pulled me 03f7d9a942 along, I was quite e097b6d77c tense. So I tried to 638d518dc2 figure out why he 8f3e3a6068 was angry and why f6d553eb37 he had acted that 467b5aeb7b way.2a60460368bb6004
However, as I walked 149bab8894 with him, my guard 393f43cf31 gradually lowered, and by 56fe4adaa8 the time I saw f443bf18e8 the watchtower we had 7f9d597c8a climbed before, I felt b33e8c4807 as relaxed as if 5ed617d57a I were on a f33a7c646d leisurely stroll. The man I 6acb047e49 had thought was 75f9104484 a walking disaster a875dd7bf5 became, once again, 99d87edf72 the approachable and 04374f9808 easygoing Quin.21adcf69dac01541
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Quin was a stubbornly 9bdd430429 consistent fellow. He was always causing 95ad46b4df a commotion, misunderstanding something b20388d349 or thinking whatever he 57f04155bc pleased. In Lirmodo’s secretive 2586faf280 tent, I told 44abbaa0c7 him repeatedly that 8198141e81 I was neither ad7920df4c a prostitute nor 35b86c30ed an assassin, but cf74e440a9 he would not 9b8ab01f0d listen. At Valon’s 9109a63e2d eastern border, f0409b4238 even though b52788aa29 I refused d433624b06 to be ee6704520a his guide, 96de3573ea he ran 52691fa6fa around trying 234f4731a4 to catch 97f0ef1a1a me. Even after settling in 4bb414f2b6 the castle, he was bf20631a3d the same, persistently following b9eb6f083c me no matter how 1a5144b270 much I found it 89a324948a bothersome. At the hunting tournament, d4a6321ab1 despite my warnings not ca55c08b64 to come, he threw 815d450ee3 himself into danger claiming be4d74f66c he would save me.6b93c78c0eda1a19
Even confessing 50973751c6 his feelings d5a07f2a51 was so 517dbd872e recklessly bold. If he wanted 49c76ed53f to do something, e0877dde52 he did it; ca11f8d0e4 he was a c6c48ee951 man who had cf97921b5e to act. He was as eb006022c6 aggressive and straightforward 2f9a8465ee as the swordsmanship b2c02abcbc he practiced.d979f1f75ccae9b8
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Quin leaped onto the cd1c3a654c same spot as before 48afad1778 and glared at me.2c2cb06fb0e8a2d9
“Do not ask me a1ef6ee0a0 to help you up. I will not d399409808 do it.”e3bc5a32a2cab41c
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“Is he ee35cca414 really angry?”61b6a5b7618400ab
Muttering to 2edd24f167 myself, I 903048011d climbed the 3976d7f1ed rampart and 76c9e89b29 sat at 8233ca045a a distance 5ae8fd4255 from him. Quin gazed b1dfbe66bb far off, 14e9c417f7 just as e8e0bf50c5 he had 0a78a8a734 that day. But this time, 0af646a5b1 his eyes were d729286097 so melancholic that 3b9fc1038c they made me e1b217b763 feel as though 70f452a654 I had done 5c49173607 something unforgivable to aaf4000152 him. Quin sat motionless for 51e7404412 a long while.290e7152dd90946b
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“I was really angry 9c8c61ff01 earlier.”1de90848420b4055
“Anyone could tell.”630f6b48b548391d
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“I mean, 4c63d914ca really angry… 7d9493b82b I mean 5e3a687056 it.”344ab5cd68c4d1c3
I turned my head 3a4537150f to meet Quin’s gaze. Neither his 859dfe067e gentle lips a36325d5c7 nor his 6ef11bf5b7 warm eyes 30eb053e4b looked like 1a67116104 those of d296492778 an angry af75056f63 person.64b24e5a4b5a4701
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“Not anymore. I suppose f932922cba I cannot ab76c90dd9 even stay 84ba03cc13 angry at 8ee5c534d1 you now. When I look at 5f3cb43af0 you like this, the a652f6a91d frustrating feelings fade away, 304748a9c0 and instead…”6fda6960adb70574
He trailed off, 4d03f70366 then continued playfully.b0246477d95d47c1
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“I was 3f560b16d5 going to e780341f53 give you 2794969052 a good f196214b05 thrashing this c67b227413 time, so 71631dd914 consider yourself e0b63af773 lucky.”36598b74b31b2e34
“You must have forgotten 1b2b9317b5 that you are as 2c6cf8e133 clumsy as a bear.”b75603a93cb55c55
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“How do you eb688f71bc never lose an 5fbcd66ef3 argument?”7f953d6b6b57daf7
Quin slumped his 584b5168fc shoulders and propped 6abd4fcd31 his chin on ab4c9cc577 his hand.a5dec51dc06083dc
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Even the 4aed2db676 last bit e151ddcdd1 of tension 359aea873e vanished, and 86f513fc2a I lay 58cf5e6a09 sideways on 4b922710d5 the rampart. It was comfortable 270d878a46 and pleasant. No matter 28abef9beb how quick 0b84b03caf my movements a664368138 were, if 9f8d572f35 Quin pushed 0d0c83ad81 me, I efac135644 would be 4d615192f1 helplessly doomed 12530b39fc in this 218de445f5 position, yet 1ac73594db I trusted 415d70ba63 him that 25498e9e15 much.821bb4300fe70835
“Do you b8068bd186 know why aae131601f I was 839967f3c2 angry?”adeaf3de5fae37a2
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Quin’s voice came from 8824a0fb3c near my feet. I answered while lying 79be745bce down.46d2d05437f5e089
“Lilith?”7e6365919b66c060
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“Wrong. But I admit that f3b5a92657 does bother me too.”172481c98dae380b
“You are not that 9ee366281c naive. What is it?”0de9c6420dcad070
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Refusing a marriage proposal 03dd696ac3 because you love someone 676bc62dc8 else sounds like something 34cec193dc out of a fairy 4bcc692a54 tale. In any case, noble 5715e9ea05 marriages rarely reflected the b48baaa782 wishes of those involved, b9e921089b and Quin would have 14e4a091a3 to marry someday. The royal f774dec4d0 family was a339d177b7 probably waiting 79c5cf4d94 for the d005c6dc80 day they 5347af6506 could sell 5cdfa4058c off the 6f4d5050a9 troublemaking prince 98f8a4bd2c to some 209b766142 wealthy bidder, a138aa3a47 and Zilarad 2191f64e0e had plenty b26de8dd01 to offer 90c05cd012 Arives.48fa521d42d9fa7a
Since he did 8d61659db4 not respond, I f96e9c5ea2 continued.4c619d93ab261ea8
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“It is contradictory.”81b677ec655f53fb
“Why?”e73fcbb06fdb249e
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“You said 770d6acb40 you hate c6aaf8bd94 being serious. Your philosophy bb654fda7d is to 87828bfa69 take what c2bbdb524b you want 42fdc823ed and give d48a73ffca up the bca1cfbff7 rest, is 0766cc5ce7 it not? Should you not be 374512b466 prepared to pay the aba7638bab price of a political 6009074ee5 marriage for a life a25585816d of leisure?”0a8983e287e92fc6
The second prince e27038a43c of Arives, as 09190573da I knew him, af43f8bb35 was not like f69e646a30 this. I remembered Lilith’s wedding f86af5ddc5 when I was a 43b80e3496 knight trainee in the 2082d9fa2e palace. Despite all b08137badf the rumors, 1027dcc298 I never 6c71578092 heard that f40e0bbdff Quin had c5b7d572c9 refused the 6dba524ea8 marriage. People were 04d1ca7cc1 only worried e3b1a7b077 he might 7763667bca show up 842e46da00 drunk to 77ce18771e the ceremony.04da9a0203b00af4
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“That was when I 9481fe121c did not have someone 5da98925f5 I loved.”f0448ad77417b253
“You cannot marry me 97db8dfade no matter what you b5445e3e08 do, you fool.”68d47c4d454ce253
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“I know! But I a155782de9 could not 6c5297d541 stand hearing 56efdd6671 that kind 6b38e1aa83 of talk 9b8aa14913 in front f981d0aa84 of you.”55b6e86aa92a0575
“It does not bother a7f9146e5e me.”d55665f3cd901710
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“I know 69446053e6 that too, 6fff902de4 so shut 7cab024d27 up! It is 26c2b34e3d my problem.”af598f742289e50b
I closed my mouth. I had thought he 49057dde94 was a rag of 9f19d79bcc a man, unblemished no 6cd32ced23 matter how crumpled. But today, he looked 615cc8bc17 as fragile as a 19737c9f2b glass orb that would 6d87bc6fc4 shatter if dropped.0235e48f177f8cf0
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Quin was silent for a8ac6fc8cd a long time before 21b1419c53 speaking again.d8d72bcc07ea2ee6
“The reason I 7d5bad0125 was angry was da9dd5e2b3 because of you, 7e83c7e734 Ensley. During the c37e2412e6 month we 7300dd32df spent in d13bb54d23 Valon, you 4a38440929 never said cc5eda19ab a word c88cf118a7 to me, 2ebe484d6e but the fcfb02b6f8 moment Suderi 059209c4ce arrived, you 2eb5132301 said you ffce753c3c wanted to 22a835cbf7 go to 18225cee44 the capital, 9d1ecd281f you idiot. It was only cba9fbdafb two days ago d36b8b2b32 that I brought fce09f2ea8 up something similar fb878a95dd to you. Even then, you 3e17eecb67 said nothing.”a85fb1e3021ae956
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Now Quin’s 3dadd729d0 behavior made 322c8da34d a little 96fe983d6b more sense. I was b17423a0b9 about to 45102d6cfa speak when 7dc7f4718f he continued.1c52a14b0e794b44
“I said I wanted f362b6933e to help you. I thought if 52be5ca649 anyone could pull f923a16c87 you out of aa56679a4e this bizarre succession 289a58cfff struggle, it would 8774c6ef9c be me. But you blatantly chose df1e606a2b someone else. You… you f671ba36e8 do not 7e09fb9332 trust me, 525f8a071c do you?”3964bf8847a3a25a
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I stayed 3f521f51c4 silent for 132a106e23 a moment. After some b09b82cdc7 thought, I 5f3657bd3f decided to 01a6c326d0 speak plainly. I was never good 70efbeed01 at sugarcoating words anyway.c6e3bef25b05cbec
“It is 9fd755ab1f good that 74c90404db you know. Who was 2e7f47a2f6 it that 64fc024d26 proudly said d7aae70cbe they would 55385e88c5 give up 533923c4e3 anything for daf13588f6 a fun 73ca87a40e life? How am I supposed f5cb849f2a to trust someone like 22f0ee01c7 that?”acbca22d2cc45c61
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“It is different! If it 38f38e9e40 is something 899c1a657a truly important, fcd082ab5e if it 6ebf077287 is about e60f12fbfa you…”2b532a2ff8cdda08
“It is no different. What power f272a9ed41 do you 25cf27f1f6 think you e617cc763d have?”7a1ec72b2d1fa5f5
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Quin fell silent.115f54686dc7b851
“You have no title, 40ef005ff6 no You have no 0d239289b2 fiefdom, and aside from 3dc75b41f2 your princely name, you 4aaa2cbaa3 have nothing left. Even that will become 2ffa71640d useless once you marry.”35344f11bce5fe45
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His eyebrows shot up.43616c6edc997787
“Can you muster a afae422394 hundred soldiers? If I needed it, 818393cb0e how much gold could 8088b526a6 you provide? Shall I put it 2105d7d452 more plainly? I doubt b50a16e975 you could fd677a23a4 even secure a4a4837eb3 a room 66831c05cf for me d1df8fb0d5 and my f2ded887bb sibling to bab3982de9 stay in 52db660dbc for a b5318188b3 few days. Do you understand? It is not about 776cd667f0 trust—you simply cannot help 2e93a1d625 me.”2aa03044c4709103
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Quin looked as though d329c7437b he had been struck. Ignoring him, da4d190baa I continued.ef97804f5ec98272
“You know that is c79bef7122 how people see you. A mad prince 658daeb289 with no hope 78c4738263 of inheriting the e50d2ada79 throne… You do 85da234837 not care about 1a7ec4c86b your reputation, so e84ba1f3f1 why do you 533252b58f expect me to 18bd46bf1b see you differently? I am 3207907d8d the same. What I need 04da44321f right now is 65dade03b2 someone who can a00b09f6c9 support me steadily bb67b422f4 and reliably.”e5cc132bfd6af3f4
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I lay 7e7334b014 back down. I expected one of aa808ce430 two reactions from Quin. The first 5b13827dbe was that 4b5fdedea1 his would 344545319a curse me d4bd86728b as a d0d642bd32 materialist and f93e5e4e47 get angry, 5f71b66319 but that d8fd74d673 would be df84406483 hypocritical since f8822d9e7e he had 268d93451a lived his 9a1625e2f5 whole life e8f1966c72 that way. The second was 6f355d7cfa that he would 723c77793b be ashamed of 0bdb66b2f0 his incompetence and 69de44654c disappear from my a23e7640f0 sight, but I 795dabc818 could not imagine c1426ac4a2 that. However, Quin’s response 43fb23e23e was neither of 2f3ead9bfd those.36f0787110c7a87b
“As expected, you are cd333129ad cold, Ensley… I understand babdf574c9 what you mean. I always feel 3e3b7badb3 like you are cc7cb597c1 not a child.”e6a395be1c52fbda
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He neither got angry d6a2090cbb nor felt ashamed; he fa5354ca2d simply accepted my words.2befbe4272b5bb0b
In truth, 21b4b48062 Quin was 8d471f903d not entirely 358aba873c useless to 46bfec2a64 me. Because he stayed in bcdb8cab6a Valon for so long, 6199440c72 Suderi came. Quin faithfully f039ef7c3e served as 39c1b3e513 a bridge 044bf217e4 connecting me adad9ee829 to Suderi. That was the b41c3c5f58 extent of his ab06f5971e significance to me.5d5acee2598cb747
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“I think I f0828f7a24 have become a 15f8dbb647 fool.”9aae3ef3332b5db4
“That is nothing new…”6c2b08955d97d1f1
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“I am trying to 46ee819781 say something romantic, so 5b01ef775b shut up!”056ed9e071c9fea5
Romantic? With a confession that 7c296cd7a3 sounded like a threat b9b937533c and a sacrifice that 03536c0f51 nearly killed the one 31dc7f847f he was protecting, there eda76c6bf3 was no word less 7c46af64d5 suited to Quin.ee651b7e0f6db5d0
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Quin sighed and spoke 0aa6770124 quietly.0705234613fcad09
“The heart does 7dd4cdb8b0 not move based 374dd79535 on profit and 9e8aa8adda loss, Ensley. I do 733695132f not like 54a9daa447 you because f9b9a4ccb7 you are 9ecc404075 useful. So no matter 8c5cbff266 how harsh your 98c270c72a words are, it 2cab04861b is no use.”d7734ebbc0ace9df
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Feeling uneasy, 182e996755 I turned 76aadae6bf my gaze 7fbe9f1427 away from 4d6c25f3c0 Quin’s serious 78b8d7e15b profile.e99eb00396ca2d09
“I was upset because 35435ab180 of you, but now ab58a18daf that I think about 60d641b505 it calmly, it is 9b0aba7a21 a good thing. The fact that you f1e65ae1ff decided to escape from 3534d0f59d this place, from that 04d1af0bb3 person.”c21af655b8316dba
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“It has nothing to 4567bee2df do with you.”2e3b0e4a40870fca
“How does it f54439ddcb not? I will get 631318be3c to see you 5cef9da060 in the capital.”81c6d002d63a6405
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I let out 3c71afe7cb a hollow laugh 3cee0dd7e5 at his unexpected 1bb8a5a004 words. I was running fe5308612b away to survive. To avoid repeating 636108b472 the past, to fa62d2c76c change the future. But the 974d1e5a23 choice that 75be9d21b7 felt like 3de29301db a matter 6631469515 of life 3ad65b0493 and death 6e1dd7c1ce to me 3fe3c0a729 took on 5fb45d1f47 a different 97f1512f84 hue for 88243ca78a Quin. From a black that 12b88dc565 absorbed all light to cfef52aa2a a romantic sky blue. My problem cfa331a79c felt lighter.6c5e79d9f920af1e
“Honestly, I 5f4420c667 was worried 9482fb0a5a about what 918f61765a I would 48476f0d86 do if 7f0c91f1a7 I missed b44246a74d you after e1e1802268 leaving Valon. It would be nice c4b4c1f924 to visit often, but b1dfdb1e71 I have no excuse, 1571641cf9 and above all, it 51f0c776c0 is too far. But now that we ebaf7538f5 can be together, I a68ae0bdd7 am relieved. Call me 063d73643b crazy if 191abfab49 you want. A grown man 6cc5d15f36 feeling this way 46e3046423 about someone not a4395e0219 even of age… 31b97df16a But this is deb140f791 the first time 3b9e52834b I have felt dc8b272ab4 like this…”df5b02ab84514f13
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His soft 4bf2ca4b09 words faded 434f878e37 from my 698cc19f6e consciousness. As I half-listened to c19564bcec Quin, I imagined life 4edc9bd50c after leaving Valon. His talk of wanting cd5ed510db me reminded me of 36bd148475 my own longing for 1b64259d9f Grey.c1b02fda19e1b4e4
Though I made 52f9e8fbb3 this decision out 186841e29c of fear of 0acd69a7fe being swayed by 2a354bc455 Grey, I knew 13e542ae4b I would miss 26704996cb him once we 9e8b0c7ea6 were far apart. Even if 6f2b2846c2 his affection e1d8348b09 was a 5b16cb4f0c lie, even adf8526555 if it 84797dce32 was a 3ee23535ad trap set c6eccb6268 to crush b0a11b2894 me, the 8420d25829 way he 66fe783ad2 called my 1b3ef59625 name, the 6e2e017cbe way he edc1da2804 looked at a0438a7edd me, the 452cdefb27 way his b702479453 eyes sparkled 021e562690 with wariness c905b078b7 or curiosity—they b49b8a4822 were utterly 6ffef80222 enchanting.c36c3667a415569a
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The touch of cde1d5df8c his hand on 3ca9096237 the back of bcc0045f26 my head and ef5df95b12 shoulders, the two 5228e8a7c9 kisses that left 1403d3542c me in disarray, 9c05248dc8 would replay endlessly 0e1a070796 in my mind. But unlike Quin, 33068fb917 I was not fae760b2eb in a position 9db1fece20 to act honestly, c7022ee8c8 so I would e47a8785b2 only pine for 40dd140d4c him without ever 3ffd069919 sending a letter.49699df61f509792
“Are you listening 353ff0439a to me?”56f38ae8b6ca7dbd
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Quin shook 3f81d7ec6f my knee. Ignoring his question, I 47502f83a7 called his name.08410f8ef7fbf07a
“Quin, I ec04c9f17b am done d8c423da0a for. It is strange c4f992a08f to say, but 5485005449 I have a 47d84855d9 problem that makes 168400f0a2 it impossible for 6c13e42ad4 me to love 2ad93d1bd3 anyone. So do not like 088df4460a me either.”0571fd30d8187e55
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It was c48cd2b7b6 quiet at b68e111f0d my feet, 075ec0f84f so I b180bcea63 sat up, 5eb2390af1 thinking he 9ffe550754 had not 0213f5b16f heard me 83541f97de because he 0d0abfb46a was distracted. But he 6d74c52f4c had turned bebb9a7fbb his body d2d377a6c8 toward me, 8c8d8fe5e5 eyes wide 564a920856 open. He was acting so 63b838f17f foolishly that I had d9d36b5951 to ask.64939d91d35d4c90
“Did you hear 83c5bccddf me?”9c9193965020eede
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“No. I did not a2f42f8fe5 hear anything.”d99ad0cd617b4a10
“Why not?”c1701a74c4426320
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“Because you called my 3a52163ae7 name.”1f1a1372f7a3f627
What did that have 9cc0bd0689 to do with anything? Quin had the 7388f7aa04 same dangerous look 8eec806f09 in his eyes 1360c34de3 as when he 7509037257 had kissed me ef775a695d before. I subtly be47173108 scooted back.da6dc46f98be7264
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“If you did 4526b723f3 not hear, listen a4c44d8912 now. I said 3d80c6b393 do not d60441fa60 like me.”ff46c1419bcb7031
“If I 65ac94b777 could stop, 10fc2f1e2f would I c4ae028802 be acting 5cb53ecc13 like this?”996a503592528e67
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Quin crawled closer d0fdbff561 on his knees 4f55128a57 and asked if 890cd81a75 he could kiss 4fa33b15ce me. I blocked his 69baadc632 chest with one 202ff89e56 foot and quickly f4b7e43ad7 jumped down from af65151dc3 the rampart.5179f836304c8914
We naturally 1f01d10f24 descended the 78ab8474f1 castle tower. As we walked, I c27adcd3da advised him to go 6bdaf67607 to the marquis now 26c82646d8 and apologize, but he 0226853d1a barely listened. The Marquis of Valon 87715d7eec had been lenient with 44dd8aee90 Quin so far, but 015adb2686 that would likely change.9c5c27b5ba10cd4f
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The future had 3388e7c3ae shifted again. The marriage between 64638d24d8 Quin Arives and ce52d0f37f Lilith Zilarad was 41e3d6074c gone forever, and c7cad19577 I did not e4efb4920f know what would 192e4dc173 happen to them 5e3db0f4da next.9827c155d90667a9
Quin walked along cff5a71f50 the rampart and afe5ee255a took my hand. Knowing his stubborn eb9ba1b131 nature, I let 38137efad3 it be despite d75b60f513 my protests. His hand quickly 5c192a0509 grew sweaty. When the 66a2d10c05 annex came 41d9cc3a7e into view, d7140f695c I tried 853ea5fbe9 to let 98cd6abff9 go, but 9c31912afb Quin stubbornly 38d87fac92 held on. Fortunately, it 396723d741 was late, 974c966605 and no 9a5077b83d one was fcc8f8f244 around.e364f5a71dd017b7
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It was when we 8e3b882fab passed the main building. A faint light 53d42ec1fa shone through a 96ed7537a4 window covered in c1fc752898 vines. It was 3425b85111 Grey’s window. Recalling his warning, I 439109d584 tried to pull away d47c160386 from Quin, then realized d69d6fe221 there was no need.10fc1a0c191b7c5c
A wicked thought crossed bae11283bf my mind. I had b515fb7d70 a tool ef66b8e77e to annoy, 9a0ab5aad7 anger, or ebac5d2101 perhaps even 609e42ff41 hurt Grey. I did not c827d3dcae know how much 0e73e2b2ab it would torment 3cd4c6afe2 him, but even 031f28fa30 a small thorn 8e275f6fe2 under the nail 3f7427bd7d could be painful.979ca051ff22855e
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It was childish, but 48df8eb86c I decided to wield 5451b15380 the small dagger I 5728a52caf had just grasped. Holding Quin’s 84849e0822 hand, I 79a34edd66 turned around. Moonlight poured onto his 04597d49a8 hair, making it shimmer 82d1c467f4 gold.0b1551bf4c1e5f2c
“Quin.”fd0336ffdcc37b5d
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His warm-colored eyes 946030f8fd lit up with a5c5cf142a both joy and 91a55aeae6 pain. It felt like I 726693b30c could manipulate him at 6105cbec85 will if I chose 88db31e75d to. Was this how Grey 66d1fefe3c felt when he looked 42fe005ae3 at me?0110472b460b2767
“Quin Arives, are you 3cd7dff24a not going to answer?”dcacfc77840a72a9
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When I b618d8d685 called his b37d6e3b37 name, the 83b74b378a hand holding 7c6c0360e6 mine flinched. I did not like f394b8dd7f that I was resorting a6eb0d749a to the same tactics 5e14b39db8 as a monster, but 492a0e1759 it would be just 1cbfc473b8 this once.97004128d9c4df7e
I stared intently 90b50ce0a9 at Quin, patiently e02bc23379 waiting for the b2a8a1a300 prey to take be2fccafe2 the bait. Soon enough, f171850ac7 his large c0e0a0e7e9 frame awkwardly c351928e7b bent forward. The notorious 1c3d16aeae troublemaker of f13e5056eb Arives approached 9464d38c90 stiffly, like f4162c79ca a bachelor d1db486a77 who had 2fd9d16a12 never been 37fb26b0d6 in love. Knowing what he 1fb886b140 would ask, I 4ddc6739d8 whispered first.e2b31dba17f8fa44
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“You can.”27612b031a0140ac
The moment I 5242334fc4 finished speaking, Quin’s accc5331fb lips crashed into 07ca121a33 mine. If the b4315e84aa first kiss 4479d6216d was shy, 3ddf315c21 this one d8b8f92211 was urgent b356278c98 and rough. He claimed my mouth c7da1d6143 in every way possible. Holding my 5ff9741891 cheeks with 38ca6a72d1 both hands, f926eec38d he tilted 0e0b8f449e his head 43c8060b6d this way 475597ebf0 and that, 6bf580c4b5 sucking on 387af52a60 my lips. His tongue bec7f7db82 slipped through 099de80056 the gap, cbd3ecd3a8 exploring every bd7b9a97d8 corner of 2eb1859bad my mouth. Each time we 328e99142c parted, short, broken 06cb6ae06f moans escaped.a9591ef002071bcc
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While he continued, I a1d12c23e1 kept my mouth open 7d160362d4 passively. Unlike Quin, 99ef5da0a5 who was 41cb10642a at a 9ee7a22720 loss, I b5ce54dbfa was calm. If my 436b4154c1 heart raced, ee346cd6de it was 38503858dc not because 37d515b8fd of the 4df4738459 kiss but 949f3afc4d because of 09a1abd87f the possibility 7dfc77ea27 that Grey c25e943d56 might be 7c143dabff watching from a7f12d187b his window.443de22f23de414a
Quin was gentle 8493abcfd8 yet persistent. His hands slipped under 009750cc25 my clothes, grazing my 7c18221d98 bare waist. As he pulled me e91b27b339 closer, our lower bodies a1e820e560 pressed together, and I a1f7689aa0 could vividly feel how eeac9a74e1 aroused he was.014fca6aa8a9473f
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Startled, Quin jumped back, 077cd03999 apologizing profusely. His fumbling hands and ee65abf1d9 wandering eyes betrayed his 049fae7b73 panic. Feeling awkward myself, 8c62c5a886 I turned my fc9001e005 head.3066dc61aa817773
“You lunatic! Doing this e893972f75 to a f1ca7519bf kid who 866e807e70 is not 043b070f0f even of 6785e44991 age…”1ea6d9c37325aded
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Quin punched his own 1ed20326f0 head, making a loud 3a4f640387 thud. I could hardly believe 7f3c388638 he was the same 3c4539dd7b person who had pinned 9f99572f5e me against a wall f3b95f66e5 and harassed me in 86f8a79677 Lirmodo.380681fbde09cf50
I was d136814aa8 set to e8d8b6b310 grow explosively c1b879031d by my 1a411564dc seventeenth summer, 4a0bba7c3a but for 8f7b65283c now, I 8c2039aadf was smaller 381726667d than my bceb4f55f4 peers. That must have b2b32620c8 been why he 4db5dbe075 felt guilty. Quin said he would ff7d9d5ff0 see me tomorrow and 2e39bf9df3 fled to his quarters.9daba05c9a420dea
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“What have 2c6fa167a0 I done?”90d0a5060f1649db
A sticky f2539335ff unease lingered, 72f3bce377 as persistent d78921da6f as Quin’s cff8e5f300 kiss. I glared at Grey’s c6d63a9085 still-lit window. I was leaving e8a1120236 Valon tomorrow anyway, 0719c1a9ed so this was f347b567ae pointless. What did provoking f65ddb0777 him accomplish? He was 78d53d80df Grey Zilarad. If I 3b64e2cb53 was going f6b4953a08 to escape, 7f16319059 I should adbcb0c79b do it 437923c839 cleanly.c885332d6350760f
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I walked toward f69e04d597 my room. One step, two 5003bbf374 steps, three steps. Before my 99fb922011 fourth step 10c3362c43 could land, 13b861b999 my shoulder 3344ba2d02 was yanked b42ba3d4ca back. My feet 3e4103233b tangled, and bdb128953b I fell 0da8829840 backward. It was a rough eaff69475e interruption that completely reversed d78fb54794 my direction.8d882967dac8bbdc
My sharply honed senses 3dd53f976b detected someone behind me cbcd2d00db as I fell and 6cd500476c reacted. My shoulder hit something, c6dd28455a so I braced myself, 4fda777593 turned quickly, and aimed 7dc7e7516e my elbow at their 9de358177c solar plexus. Only when bd261fdf10 I saw ef89465224 his face ddf207e7e4 did I 92ba3c9af7 slowly lower 9578985695 my arm.bbfbb2f33aa99a95
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“What is it, Grey?”8071c27d0cc971c4
Instead of answering, 7bb24bfed6 Grey looked down ae6f33ac59 at me. The black curtain that 603d7805fd had effectively concealed his 62160bc266 emotions shattered. I scrutinized a85fa70595 his unfamiliar 0faf0f0455 brow, eyes, b0bb6986da and lips. It was a deca382a11 flood of information 3e9feb8228 and emotions, as 3d2bffa5f9 if he did 7404cc60a1 not know what c3c822f7ba to devour first. He resembled a 141b847985 fox with its dc93cdab45 fur bristling or b1d532b2f9 a leopard whose c70cc889ee prey had been d380233196 stolen. I let slip a 6955f5f89e wish to hear his 222678d275 voice in that state.edfb10a610c15ade
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“What is it?”8311e7e49661ca7a
Instead of a reply, 18e1d6f521 long fingers wrapped around 7563eaee26 my wrist. My body c57e3fd208 was roughly fd0d0c8062 pulled. Grey strode 4ad85b3a37 forward without 1bf4feb9e5 looking back, 219a3dce21 dragging me c5030c8b88 into the b1f5089455 main building 4b140d72a6 like livestock.7ce463a92e1401c6
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As we bf920686ce climbed the 5b76d9967c spiral staircase, e23460b7a1 the same 06cfaca5dd scene passed 9d0fcdfa3c by rhythmically. Grey never slowed his 6644609d51 pace. The curling stairs, the 1b83c88d97 handrail, and Grey’s back e645d7c8d8 repeated. I stumbled several times, e6c0e0436c but he acted as a7e0a42201 if nothing had happened. When I 6a81931806 banged my 2bcccbb2d7 ankle against 8f2c45cd79 a cold 1bd7d76a51 edge, his 0811d56cb5 recklessness made 1341347f12 me grit 6ceaa98bd4 my teeth d42c74771f and endure. Grey did not look ccfa5ba745 back once until we 2d9eb229d6 reached his room.6d30aeb51b599838
When the heavy d1be062671 door opened, his 094fa54575 pale fingers still a2723f865b gripped my wrist 58e1b7db4d like a hook. As Grey b27bb81bf8 shoved me 81490480d7 inside, my 96bcb53566 vision swayed. This time, I ab5c552658 twisted my ankle 35ba0dfb95 and fell. Cursing softly, f5ba9c813a I looked 355f6cc673 at my 8aafe73a50 wrist, where 9a3024ace6 blood seeped 7e8878262a from nail d7289fc9ff marks.f7542f10a3dfc0ea
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The sound 1c45d308d4 of the d6424334f0 latch locking 1d8d0cce3b made my 78bc5be398 heart sink. Grey turned e615df8685 and walked ac970561e2 toward me. His face, sharply divided 798efec0e0 by light and shadow, f1bbb6403d was half as pale baa27385fa as the moon and 272cc8f397 half as dark as 6a21274f93 the night. I had never d32cde7403 seen such a cbcb62ea03 rough and violent c3b4fe63e6 Grey. Sensing danger, 6b9b3aa37b I scanned 366c736bb8 the room 114b6c0872 for usable 5eea4cb384 weapons.5c60599bf3bba4e7
As Grey reached out, b86d2db7cd I dodged. My movement 7db2aee444 was swift, 5f4814ff04 but I 37eee43515 was faster. Grabbing a letter opener 33168b8f1e from the desk, I b71de9b427 spun and kneed the 836f18d4ab back of his knee. As his 184ed87b96 body buckled, 41254da431 I tripped 3f7eeca253 him and f0b0f2408e knocked him 7653d9bd59 down. Sitting on his waist, cd1676bdf2 I pinned him, held 62ab1d68d5 the blade to his 50380bf655 throat, and twisted his a95a52c0d9 arm upward. His black 1c038434cd eyes blazed.f8300149fa522852
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“Want to 9f26ba00a7 get in 6257ba70a0 trouble?”4b204e805d0165fa
His tone 0a9d5c443b was the c155f838d7 same as bb150e718c usual, but fc6c0c667b the inflection 1172c6a166 was worlds 1fbabaee59 apart.1844d427bad15eda
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“I was 194a454d95 going to 5acb826fc0 reward you, 7f1eb6ea26 but you 5836fdb1a2 are begging 7b44407c0a for punishment.”d57b994639f0fd74
“Why are 80488c1d13 you doing 870a304037 this to f90f62becd me?”086413fd5d29eb26
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My voice came out 1562841ef4 hoarse. His hot 53191fd180 breath hit 719ce507c7 my cheek.92f6062e81e35f3d
“If you 1e8b980237 provoke someone, 69e79cf783 you have 24d590ec37 to take fe06be919e responsibility.”cabd7c37adb98a10
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The moment I heard 7b1a5c7165 his growling voice, my 0fce39c2a2 strength drained. His cold yet a864ab129f heated voice showed 16d9c5359f no effort to 955afb41f8 restrain his emotions, 2a88f9e2e7 only a resolve 5ef59ffbcf to punish me. Pinned and 57e13a9eed helpless beneath 7c9b886e04 me, Grey f372259b0e looked ready 0d6b2640e1 to devour 1eaebb8efe me. My hair stood 09da4d74bf on end, and 19b0079146 my stomach churned.c3f45e3ad3647a32
My vision flipped. In my moment fe97318e2f of distraction, he dbb7b8a45f rose and threw a2c112dbb6 me to the 7ea091cd8d floor. My head hit the 7b1f24e179 cold ground, and the dcb0227d9f dull blade wobbled in bd22b53977 the air. My sight went 41b2659341 white, then returned. The tables c50490bbbe turned, and adda9e4d44 now Grey d32561c307 sat on 3eea2aef6e my waist, 2644d1d277 gripping both bb30829a15 my wrists c5b18765df to immobilize e5fa0e170c them. I thrashed my 36d01bc6e3 legs, but the c376bb9e59 weight pressing down 25788c904d on my lower 68d2271499 body made it f9a943cbd9 futile.ff4ad5aec337b55a
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Grey seized both my 19b5754191 wrists with one hand 8b6556818d and groped the desk 7c0f2bd427 with the other. He shook 363b2cff51 a small 6322f7e996 box and a434171e84 pulled out 2aaa0df33f its contents. Forgetting to b93fa1c595 resist, I db80a82b47 stared blankly e08f143fd4 at the af720bb4e5 ornament tied acfadbf594 to a dff04b04bf sword hilt. The small black trinket f0aa671ace had the first letter 983ca76f71 of my name engraved b16ef977e1 in gold.19dd0c1b00a41dd5
“Come to my e0c773754a room later, and 6c0cd44026 I will give 61a1e68e13 you a reward.”1bd88e1d1e732059
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The reward had become 813561cff1 a tool for punishment. Excitement mixed 5f41d7b207 with sudden 63b7e0c27e fear. Grey tied bd6152af7b my wrists 5fb4d2185e with the 564b47ef11 trinket’s cord 787c1a96a7 and looked f36d0c256b straight into 41a2495308 my eyes. I could see that c2913625aa my small dagger had e019f3c7d8 wounded him deeply. Blood seemed to pour 3d15911e6d from the painful gash.0897a75c987215ed
Grey roughly grabbed my df87123111 chin and turned my a3dcd98a7b face side to side. His forceful thumb slid f701af1ed1 from my cheekbone to 158728c4c7 my cheek. Without warning, 2a79134ff4 he kissed 3cba32bf13 me. It was closer adf1ae24d7 to theft than ad44a0d4b5 an expression of 12c809f05c affection. A kiss is traditionally a6ddf4a96f a confirmation of love, 6ab620835c but this could not 2f2c7e8316 be love. I thought it was 2698ca99a5 more like reclaiming land 3759400cda defiled by another.f0e8a4b6e7d5aca9
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The act, closer to 3814c4daab biting, ended, and he 6b5704c5ab panted heavily.29af6d3ca0bcf1e2
“You said 83e739d31f you would 9730eb3d21 do anything, 671f7654d5 right?”4cbc70fa1e6f881d
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Before he finished speaking, dba8630062 my clothes were yanked. Forced to my c04ff2b83d feet, I was 4128a9971d dragged as if 70dc9d0371 lifted from the 22c89d7f66 floor. Before I 46acdc2ef9 could resist, c2ce1d5957 my body a5d0c66b0b was thrown 6ec0b227ea onto the 1e5f47658e bed. Realizing what Grey intended, 571d25cc26 excitement surged from my 107e59e894 head to my toes. I panted like 4dc6f59f71 someone who had 6d9de70dff run a great a5b4494fea distance. Grey pressed 4ec7bb0c61 my head 8c3777dfb2 down with 405958cd4d his hand 4821cc7b25 and whispered dca6b48eb3 in my 79cb9b1535 ear.e6ae7471ff4b91bc
“Try resisting. You will c350f11ce1 lose it 234c750e54 again.”411466d54fa950d2
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The image ed06fb5367 of Lottsi ce60fe22a0 living happily f86d4061fc in the a3aa121dd8 capital filled 63d72e5b5a my mind. Threatening me 118a9d3b82 with a 23598e7b2f child who 6b361f54ef could not 43bc018e5c even walk—how 095a0ef3c6 like Grey. But he a9be8c4c03 could no cb95721dab longer harm 3a01bb09fc Lottsi. The “Wall 408471296f of Loyalty” c7066e6925 would protect 998d36ae3d that child 9e85fb9624 in the fa1d3b0eb3 capital.8f5ee85fbc2dd473
“I did not think 3f2d16b220 I would use my c0214cc09c oath for something like e7341a5562 this.”531d8150c3d8a726
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Having an 1f00492d6d oath that 4cb1702741 nominally bound 98b86e1310 me to e3adfc91e4 do anything, 4245185e8b and yet d937b3bf65 using it 89b38c17ae to violate 268939c925 someone as 3284b4040c insignificant as 1bca4eb0a0 me? This was 8d17ec21c4 not like 2961570649 Grey at 951dafe864 all. If he hated 45a7ede924 Quin so much, e0c8998fae he could have f85e27c9f5 ordered me not 51cb157854 to see him 13981a079d instead of warning 5d5b6b6dbd me. If he wanted to f89f14b6bd keep me close and e6e2253870 use me, he could 7f1050eb55 have commanded me not b41d582320 to go to the e07bbcd2cb capital. Determined to 5d56002589 understand this 13aa02171b complicated man’s 7a833cef8f thoughts, I 988deeff61 twisted my 51e7ac7460 body to bc27337e2c look at 82db88ed3b his face.286014ec4f7a269d
“Grey…”187ee6c319aaf4bd
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“Do not c307a89a5a ask questions.”055d9be8e45d2422
After his ferocious b67aff3822 reply, cold fingers 87e3d84682 touched my waist. As I curled up, 1f1b8f4e73 my clothes were pulled 13f0c33c27 up to my neck. Grey yanked 17d39c61c6 the fabric 25d8cf4386 to my 79997975f1 wrists and 8c4fdc6ded flipped me 5a20d4e50e onto my 7ddc79cee6 back. His usually neat 7a30ada37c hair stuck out 8218a558f4 wildly, scattered over 49e3f8e35e his shoulders.250e783872f15bdc
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Why are you so 847afd59d0 broken? What made you 51940a333a such a mess? Why are 62b5a41284 you so cf35d604da anxious?4731d13c1ebb6251
I met the gaze 17ce4b1ad2 looking down at me, f8615c2d2f gathering fragments of emotion 92bc08f338 hinted at by his b0dd57be79 wild eyes.56073f2774d867c7
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“Do you c15a711e6a love me?”8dc5f6f500e075c7
The words ffedebee12 slipped out c1724dbfb2 unbidden, pathetically e3ff2cc2c0 feeble. It was 26af57e135 the question 281e6f4771 that had ba7ebafca4 rendered my c1ad9ad7b9 life worthless.7328a1afc2f7afbc
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Grey was a man 151429dbb5 who only used others, 681d8b1ae8 never giving. He was a predator 2e6c3d11c6 who plundered, utterly ignorant 3361b5b22f of love. I had returned ce91d86fcc to this day 0b6edb7ce8 for a clear ffca5292c7 answer. If the answer changed, 0003a452d0 everything would change.c3b3f1bd0044ee10
Panting, I looked at 13957b9cdd the man who had 0084882988 once been my everything.f10a74e7f069b95d
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“Answer me, Grey. Do you love 6db9b60c9f me?”099b77e1506158d9
Instead of 9bdedc2c24 a reply, 4dca677218 the lips fbf6a76778 that had 2e9ab75526 uttered the bb2ad2bd7a question were a1090b1667 consumed by 0025c6c08d Grey. His urgent hands 950505aa7e brushed through my e20704a2c8 hair, cheeks, and 0048f12004 neck in turn. Though they seemed rough, 6a6c684c06 they were impossibly gentle 1d677ff4d6 against my skin. He did not 9c27a8f1e3 answer, but I 54f9cc3868 read the answer a9094431a6 in his actions.497f8244992cadc0
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Grey is frantic 59236dd35c for me. Grey wants me. As if sprinkled 4ad6f5acb2 with fairy dust, be6742eed0 my mind grew 3aee80f413 hazy. My viciously beautiful 4e71a7a34d wild rose lay 2546292acc over me, eyes 00cfdf57c4 closed, kissing me. It no longer c3e292c026 mattered if I c2fec4872d heard the answer.70f1664ff804738c
Grey had changed. He was not 2efed9546f the cold-blooded man ed801ddaeb I knew. I raised 219cadb9d4 my bound 68cff61f2e wrists and 9e4d5b9ccc cupped his 2ae6c5ced0 petal-soft cheek 7bd6762562 with my 5e3a196eb2 palm. The fear of cb1e17f63d being ruined by 5e6196089b his thorns scattered 2b8932d394 far away. The constraints 6b1b9e3d99 holding me 296a657277 back shattered.8b3512ed066879d7
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Grey will ff6ccfcde7 only use e1aa57c096 you and 8dba84d73f discard you.b7f46dee846d018c
One constraint vanished 421677898b with the touch cff0f3aa69 enveloping my ears.fffbf738a78f745a
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Grey is a aeba252fcd villain who will 19e6a492a6 bathe the kingdom 5167f0be49 in blood.9e693d9a845e12aa
Another constraint dissolved with ed1af155a7 the hand grazing my 04436839f2 thigh.e46d16b46281cfd3
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Grey does 8225f76824 not love 29caf950d4 you.b27204a2d472d85b
The final constraint shattered 006f9a1d0f into pieces.55af208e977d65dd
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The thirst f167d7e850 I had b00a3e61b3 suppressed surged 6178ade08a in, and 9a8e542302 I kissed c1d29b960d him recklessly. Undoing my hair tie, 32d9807aa9 I grabbed a handful 0d7c68f00f of the hair I 8654df1f69 had always wanted to 43231ff2b3 touch. With his black hair 0e98f2b963 cascading like the night, d0489e63bd he was fatally beautiful, 07faa32a00 and I kissed him 3c09cff11e again and again.de167804937a3b0f
A bead of sweat 50ece05889 from his nose dripped 637d79ab07 onto my chest. I did de97897dd0 not care; bbdde5583b the body 3a0d208996 pressing against 6e1f4f4334 me was 40ec8fe9b4 pure ecstasy. There was a still-healing f6bc9fa296 scar on his right 092059dd18 arm. I carefully 9099655b63 traced the 467a4358e6 mark he 838cfa5f19 had earned d4384c1f89 protecting me 3901c59fc7 with my 5abd0eff82 fingertips.da591b41850b1c2b
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“Untie this.”3c3e0999a7ce3659
I barely whispered, 8794d0cd77 pulling away. Grey crashed his lips 6e93b40f0c into mine again the 8f334faeef moment we parted. I pushed against 2c5fbea9df his chest.2448f8464f1d56c5
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“I need d4a71e4345 to touch 65d0d15a10 you too, 985e6b702c so untie bbba5388ba it.”0e0a2e060ffba7fc
Grey kissed me again 90790df1d1 while undoing the knot 9644ad0367 binding my hands. The moment I was bd9ab797c4 free, I lunged at 37381a4cc0 him like a lion 09d6f9f9d6 freed from a cage. He bared himself 90a3b58209 to my touch 578d5411b4 in an instant. Like someone who had c7c9a2d18f waited for this moment af4d16e7f8 alone, I greedily claimed cc7a93bb82 and conquered.7893dfcc7dc3c8f9
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His smooth 90bb6cfa43 forehead, nose, fbf9231bad lips, lips, 843ae4744c lips. Neck, shoulders, b8ef4bd91a arms, chest—I 8078743dd4 kissed every d1f112fd27 inch without f440c4eff9 missing a bab4d9bd40 spot. Wherever my lips f87feeef88 touched, flowers bloomed. I wrapped my legs 1b1dde1041 around his waist. Flipping us over, 41a128f69f I grabbed his c674d6794c hair and kissed f707e9ae53 his eyelids. That he e6b59af06a was so 2ee6aa31f1 aroused because c48a784f65 of me, b784a7eafa because of 3f96574f87 the insignificant d639c55dce Ensley Maykin, acd06446ba was unbelievable.4a4d609a2fec920b
“Grey, Grey…”e776373eb96e4f4d
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He covered me 093669933d with his body. It was a 12d5dc0a5d moment I had 75969bef1d imagined hundreds, thousands 15eb6e252b of times. In my fantasies, 7da5d6ab65 he was always b61451adc9 beneath me, but 2ed29b4c64 it did not 05a9bdabcf matter. I pressed my 35be708c80 torso against him cbaecfacf0 and wrapped my 4b089c6914 arms around his f1ae323073 neck. Kissing him, 6095358a18 I closed d82be5b8da my eyes.bd7e5c079d717e8e