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E in front of the fireplace was a ragged looking squirrel Its eyes were bugged, and the fur on its tail was patchy, but it looked snug nestled into the fluff it had pulled fro

"It must have cli when Emele smacked her on the head with her slate

WHY did you leave theopen?

"It was stuffy," Elle said,wouldn’t be able to catch the squirrel, but she didn’t want to invite chaos "Open the balcony door and we can shoo the squirrel out"

Emele looked unconvinced She hefted herself on Elle’s for up nearly the entire surface--to reach the door on the other side of the room She opened the door and retreated to Elle’s bed while Elle stood--shivering in the cold--and grabbed one of her long abandoned crutches

"Ti the crutch on the floor before edging towards the creature

The squirrel chattered at her but didn’tthe intruder with her crutch

The squirrel rew e of the rug when the squirrel turned and launched itself on top of the crutch It ran up the wooden length and latched onto Elle’s hand, biting one of her fingers

Elle yelped, dropped the crutch, and whipped her hand, sending the squirrel flying As the squirrel hit the ground with a thuri protested at the sudden ry sounds

Elle retreated to her bed with Eet Severin He can chase it out Could you getmost i half her skirts She was al

"Wait, don’t get Severin Get the kitchen cat"

Are you et a footet Severin"

Why? He is the only male with a voice in the whole household!

Elle briefly covered his eyes "I don’t want to face hirily chattered and cliet Severin," Elle said, wrapping herself in a coverlet

Emele disappeared from the room, and Elle clutched a drowsy Jock to her chest as she stared the squirrel down The squirrel hopped off the chair and returned to its nest of shredded rug It htning

Elle was standing on the bed, still cradling Jock--asher arms fall asleep--when Severin entered the rooe," the cursed prince said, joining Elle at her bedside