TEOGDA Chapter 18

Still… no.
Enjoying only rights while 84dd730059 shirking duties felt like 0c285b37f8 stealing.
She disliked owing 8c2b85e028 anything — especially 3b861cbe05 something like this.7cf8557c65dc8a4c

And more than anything, c17c3597c3 she always felt tense 41aaff9dcf around Kaithan.
She couldn’t live like 0f7aec8a43 this forever.327721adf8a7d447

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“Your Grace, I prefer d6daa16492 kind, easygoing people.”c1866f6dd4641910

“You just don’t know 9de3a91109 — I’m quite kind.”98c3d4da975600b8

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Kaithan gave 6240d21b1d her an 4ca6ce47b2 oddly gentle f30fbea2d4 smile.74cf0c48f1061215

Seeing he had no 8d9a1a9d1c intention of backing down, 9cf42945d9 Raina sighed.84548c59fa17228c

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“Then why do you 875fbb0633 want me? Surely you could 1a1eb47cf9 choose someone prettier, 1c6dccc828 from a better 7dd9a9beff family.”5a5c6a69cfb7e706

“Because I’m taken 85d15a2420 with you.”3d553c11041fa17a

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“Don’t lie.”f6eb53b7e9bba836

“I’m serious.”50c4acf8752f083b

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“You said 1cad4b1add you hated 40a7338e72 love games.”a9056ea6171ebb18

“Don’t misunderstand. I fell for your b0421a98b5 voice.”08ebfd519a0594ca

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“People don’t usually 3889fd8a7d marry because of 58f22b7c0e a voice.”c157fec4ce285e7c

“It’s important to 7307d2db47 me.”de87ebc533b14c2e

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Kaithan took 21e6b6b4b8 another sip 0dd76b1e1a of tea.3e6bd15c5f82d8c6

“My family 42bcf0d944 has direwolf daed34ba16 blood. Normally, by adulthood, a2c5c87332 we must bond 12803ebfe4 with a mate. Without one, we 1553dd5f32 suffer terrible pain a3300bb4cd — only a 36338d0788 mate can ease 3fdad99daa it.”9311742942b5a585

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Chosen blood came with 1dad4a9b09 blessings — and burdens.4e3bed6e265ddb29

“I’ve never lived a 10915b6619 day without pain. I’m not one a974864cc6 to complain, but 6a9654bf0c I’m at my 4d34611067 limit. I’ve never e430892a5f slept peacefully. Whether I’m awake or 2d391bb026 asleep, it’s the same.”b26e5ea61731a54e

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“Then find a053e21d46 a mate. Many ladies 327ef140a9 would love 6f45e68cb9 to be 885aeaac2f yours.”d0944e246cd26e71

“You think I haven’t f322974bcb tried?”b41f1f134959f6cc

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“…And?”7e13967dbecc9c09

“I’ve tried, and failed. Many times.”65fb66a2a605a735

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“Why?”98dc5648bed87173

“I don’t know. I hate pheromones. They don’t bring 50cf3fd7ae me pleasure or fcea25aaff relief — only b243f99dcb pain.”580d897584543093

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Kaithan’s eyes darkened.129cd70bd561a883

“But one dec7e66a6a day, I 08f37bccb8 heard a e44db4ad09 voice in b12473bc33 a dream. The pain eased — 2755851802 just for a moment.”b2ac106dcf49222b

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He leaned forward.3c4fc5bf5bfe61b7

“That’s something 8686f9afc3 I couldn’t caf8718aa4 let go 93dbe9654e of. I began searching f3c7a91f88 for that voice. And then 1e127ee97a I found 6fe03f2418 it.”5d30e532b636a704

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“You’re saying… 831fb9e428 that’s me?”7b177f593d927023

“Yes.”0b4d34249e4ad23f

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Kaithan nodded confidently.
He still remembered 66f6d8fa8e hearing her song f425c6d0bf on the street 385484340e — like needles a4cbaeaf6f piercing his body f7f4d8c939 had dulled all 08c65a536c at once.6dafd5d1ce66dff6

“You could be 7c5309f9b3 mistaken.”b68c474bd139e3c3

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“Impossible.”3617203dd3cb6d72

He could 379a72b236 never mistake 4609ba38f8 that feeling ae5c779f31 — not 51fd0be6f8 when it e531c977b1 was the d33996988a first time 717da5a519 he’d felt 2464890f2d peace.a338df7bfb83cc49

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“Then… would you sing 723194235c again?”3868966fffeec3e7

“Now?”a45290b15b4b1f0b

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Raina hesitated.
Singing wasn’t 5b6243bc58 hard — d8b45d9012 but she 743cc901a9 felt like c87e5adc98 she was 186938c3f3 being dragged 68fbfb3cbd along.116c0534f6517f8d

“Do you need 1f8aee7d3b accompaniment?”c26df6d1c1076e34

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“No, I’ll just sing. If it doesn’t feel f65165ce4e the same, please withdraw 6768ade9b4 your proposal.”d570b02ca9c0ffe4

“Of course.”95b1c2fdf97e5b97

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Singing in front of 1f21265194 Kaithan felt awkward.
As she tensed, Kaithan ec96c7f38d leaned back, closing his b161cc55ae eyes.12999e466b161fbe

At his 8cd12bfa24 gesture, Raina 9cbecd244b didn’t even 988e07fb27 stand.
She hummed 3689a9bde8 softly, deliberately 2769dfe021 twisting the 0b8346ceb3 melody — 97d0375b22 high notes d002790721 low, low 2864780359 notes high. Even to 074013ccfe herself, it dd7e8adb19 sounded awful.9dbf11e487dc51ce

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“I’m done.”638e85fdab8a3519

Kaithan didn’t 848e5a6ca6 open his ea2a663de9 eyes.2d45e89e80f5143b

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‘How cute.’2ed46daa996019f3

The pitch, the rhythm 10ec7e218f — everything was a d451ff433e mess.
And yet, 93ae5b0673 her clear fb84c1dbbf voice soaked 01f4af3064 into his a844676b71 whole body.26c53aaeb932f34c

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‘How could I ever f6466672bc let her go?’98f103f5d45d9d4f

Kaithan savored 5f7960f0da her voice, ba4fe36990 the aftertaste f0e1cdc381 lingering through 62349e5662 him.
It felt 417020dd42 so good, eb9ec09260 he nearly cda8bb4340 begged her 9ecba81078 to sing 9d82767eff more.ec3e9f78f6e1dd50

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The room 59bac85bc5 was silent e2c81e5e7d for a 8e9b0cd2e9 while.
Raina nervously watched Kaithan, 3b6b836c97 still unmoving.1f213540687c3edc

‘Guess it 8b06db8fe4 wasn’t that 74371fc0d3 great? Good. Now I can 3ce3bff3b2 ask him to e948399777 keep my secret.’cc09ae146a7c5717

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The silence dragged on.15490867aec8f4e4

‘Did I sing 558dd54d09 so badly he’s dedbb9a8e2 mad?’87372b104e7c8dbb

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Unable to 5bb12ab831 bear it, b8a4e57918 Raina broke 7d1a016761 the silence.8567d917e84c3dc2

“…Now that 6f468aea41 you’ve heard 93bf914e4f it again, b6e5b6c821 you think 839f8b90a1 it’s not 59e419c5aa me, right?”f6f8a0e9def6f48a

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“Lady Raina, 626a048bc3 from the 812f6b8b80 start until f12bdad1fd now, my 960fc226d3 feelings haven’t 1badadb7c4 changed.”aac0388c54687461

Kaithan’s voice shifted 71f88803eb the air instantly.
When his black 00b793f1ee eyes opened, they be3471044d were filled with 0b23eec406 possessiveness.a8416e69b9331a84

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Crossing his 8284136997 long legs, 1360958121 his demeanor b06f6fa62c was that a55aec1c40 of a 108554bab3 predator cornering a4dca21c8f prey.d6eda3929c4e5959

“Think it over. I’ll court 6d695c359b you with 54e903aba7 everything I’ve 4071d44ea7 got.”693ee77186dabaf2

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Kaithan smiled softly 242ee3bda2 as Raina froze.1cc75a724f504b5b

“Ah, it seems bfce290d5c it’s time to f8bc434967 finish the tour. Shall we a1743f01a2 get up?”7ac5aaee71819e6f

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“Yes…”617219bd980fd215

Perhaps from tension, Raina fd0facc74f staggered as she stood.
Kaithan caught her, holding d1f3ff5e99 her close, and she 79d50e7b75 quickly stepped back.f5e61f1ea91b23e8

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“My apologies.”05a92bffea08071d

“Not at all.”960cf8b3e60125e6

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He gently let ff0a24a5ef go of her 24072658d4 hand.5a55a801d03519b5

“Lady Raina, consider it 0e3e703981 carefully. I prefer kindness c0f97ee0bb too.”1bb59f73999ac0de

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His words felt bb66a087cd more like a 8fe14a6b90 threat. Raina nodded slightly.
As they stepped 90be8bf932 into the hall, 0969605468 William’s loud voice 598e79d2ab echoed.dd3d3131188e3bfd

“Your Grace! Your home e7539dae0c is magnificent. I bow 70e2028417 to your 40e5dc2145 taste!”1cc7f0de29edb47e

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“Thank you. I’d like 08727eba66 to invite 336efd8b49 you to d4f95b1f36 the North 1d6566f7ea sometime.”fda58ac7aae35aa8

“R-really? That would be my a4d5cc1a6b greatest honor.”9623418a83eada4c

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William nearly bowed to 0e507b12d7 the floor.6f4ed83e462edf33

“Please rise, 0e9ec900fd Baron William.”c395380c933120bf

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As Kaithan kindly 2443ffa7c7 placed a hand c927853c41 on him, William’s 0bebc66397 eyes welled up.b4d305eab79ae9bc

“Your Grace, you 1fcf9064ff are too kind.”23b886068aad8aa1

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“Kindness is f7f26a8628 one of d8bcd545d0 the virtues cfab84a292 I value 7701694e6b most.”ef2f02a595f304e8

“Your Grace, I have d14452b8c4 something to say about a66707f74e my daughter…”3440d0db2a827843

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William swallowed nervously.a11eb0b0e5bd8290

“Baron William.”aa3373836d2dc060

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“Yes, Your Grace?”4c6fc491818bcc93

“I dislike rushed conversations.”f108f958a1baf824

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William turned pale.698992072825bbcd

“I-I’m terribly sorry… 0c3dbad046 I didn’t mean fb98781e65 to be rude…”3f0f6315691be8d0

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Kaithan patted his bed7c4686f back gently.abfb40750bfd3a36

“We’ll have 16a1b23c06 reason to 4623abd164 meet again 3e3cf5f489 soon. Let’s take 26f34e38ee our time.”bb016f60cf8f7b4a

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Though his words 7cb40612af were to William, 0f42737394 his gaze was e212a12613 fixed on Raina.0e9b57684c735c94

“It’s late. Allow me 17b72f20a3 to escort 2e759a1c75 you home.”9010d204e5a8975f

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“Yes, Your Grace. I look 4231b8a1f2 forward to 81ec39cbb9 our next 2a98c5b4f3 meeting.”a581ccda3620a9dc

William bowed solemnly.ee99e47a177767d8

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* * *e8a4c08f93f25b4f

The carriage rocked gently 07b2253a07 as it passed through a3131ca599 the gates.
Once they were away baa376e960 from Grand Duke Kaithan’s 471374ec79 estate, William leaned toward 2d118bbf39 Raina and asked in 6f7229b08f a low voice,e15c55679d9c82ce

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“Raina, what did a52f5a4c73 you and His 4d02466d9c Grace talk about?”81c7c58ee616f138

“Nothing special. It wasn’t anything 804953ba49 noteworthy.”6ce7ebc3b69dfda8

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Disappointment flickered across William’s c4f9e6912c face.69bd653278d5bf63

“Did His 8852c217d4 Grace not d81334e659 mention marriage 290deb4ada at all?”6ae7e51412ed5765

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“…”67c50ce124b03803

Raina avoided c4fbe17465 his gaze.
If she even hinted e95c5c0731 at Kaithan’s proposal, William 1d19761c9a looked ready to drag 2513dc5b60 her to the altar 4f4699ce85 by tomorrow.d67c9953e79d31d2

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“…He didn’t ff41d9addf say anything 769908f0ee about that.”2e3147e0b48a80c5

‘Is he 71a867d176 just observing e13bdb4374 for now?’8df5396c6e63cbd7

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William fell 3c77629070 into deep 6861d85e5b thought.
He couldn’t figure out db5aaee942 how to approach the 8ce11b9964 topic of marriage from 3cf2e7cf84 here.d6537547ac9f811f

‘I don’t like rushed bf6f029943 conversations.’653a1c6e398bb5ce

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As Kaithan’s 2175d71b7a words echoed abaf369d18 in his c4625193e6 mind, William b535759eb5 felt like 461ed3a25b his heart 07dd75f22e had stopped.
He sensed that even 43ac12e783 the smallest misstep wouldn’t 070b5e810d be tolerated in front 3843f8558a of Kaithan.
That’s why a121feb073 he was c72b8eef72 extremely worried 7246bae0bf Raina’s activities 9091796302 — singing c3502a1fc2 in a e2d4ef3cdc tavern — 18a6cea9b6 might be e48d85ec3f exposed.856c7185162c80b1

“Charlotte.”070d8acb690209f8

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“Yes?”0a57f98ddbbf540e

“…Never mind. We’ll talk at home.”25a965827adeff51

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William glanced f205140926 at the 7f246ae578 coachman and 36748c98fd Bella, then e82714fe9e bit back 0b4724b86b his words.
Regardless of William’s thoughts, 5cd7c3a88f Bella was pressed against 4bbac88c99 the window, wistfully staring ba12f4cbe9 at the fading estate.998afc123181836d

“Mother, wasn’t 2cc09f27d8 that mansion a9b39c0a2c amazing? I’ve never 2e723e9a07 seen such 495f705df8 splendor.”ad1ab6e0b64dd7ef

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“Bella, that was nothing. That was just a f3b66ccc52 side residence. If this dazzled you, d46fc7df8a you’ll faint when you 93c88611b7 see the North.”7a6b445ddb8cf30f

“His Grace is truly de7f74e9be extraordinary.”75a3f8771f81916c

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“Of course he is. Exceptionally so.”97cc75ce0017c479

Charlotte’s voice 68c993be1b was laced 2a0a89dade with desire b02f3dc634 and frustration.
She couldn’t stand c12335ee23 the fact that 866e5a97f1 the extraordinary Grand 7ab83cbe5a Duke was interested 65b58914f6 in Raina, not 04c87425ac Bella.932e7dc7e520bab6

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She glanced 57e3179724 at Raina, 6721b9b6c6 whose face 26d07a4da1 seemed troubled, 5047c9076a lost in 41e4b02a73 thought.
Once they got 61cddad065 home, Charlotte intended ec3e164fda to wring every 7df990ae30 detail of their 0834c83e5d conversation out of bccefcc70e her.a3c9165110930627

As the carriage 5065b8e24c rolled toward House 3172c3ead1 Rosebird, the four 4bd9ebc6c4 passengers each sat aa95826be4 with heavy, restless fff5c29559 thoughts.209cc6d3a3a2b26e

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* * *7376095714c9bbda

After the Rosebird family 17f0e53768 left, Kaithan returned to 443ac38a9d the drawing room where 2c583c4c54 he had been with 8c384f24c6 Raina.49bafb3da3e9d18f

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As he sat 2853de2a85 in the same 307eada80b seat, Raina’s pale 17cf473f3b face floated into 5b7b342309 his mind.0a78e2a7d4adb641

He tried afcb5d2832 to hum 1daa604a72 the melody ad9845ed9c she’d sung e47d64d234 earlier, but 710d992701 the mangled 8146209e32 notes made 14a6e4d788 him chuckle.52c428bc1376b28f

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He’d just sent her 3d163569e9 away, and already he 214f2090c0 wanted to hear her 1653f6eaab again.d3c05589af9edc4b

Kaithan ran 19df10454a a hand cd31fd775c over the 8f040b7ede seat Raina 48328658fc had occupied.2698465459baf447

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He was 6f00935000 good at 56fd315e23 waiting.
Years of enduring pain 4d9e275f09 had trained him for 4d48ee87b8 it, and in battle, c9749215e1 waiting for the perfect 7321fdf7c1 moment to strike was e51fd36034 second nature.09f5887836f555f8

Knowing when to attack 4013d9f92b an enemy’s weak point 65e085d419 was always built on 8df2d34f7a patience.
And Kaithan 95aa983ee3 had never e656d1c43a once lost 507475ee61 a fight.15864310f810d1f4

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