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Wrath sat down as the dog’s rhythround "Pretty clear question, isn’t it?"

"Ah…I aood"

George lifted his head and tongued his jowls back into order over the bowl, as if he didn’t want to leave a trail of drips Then he headed for hisinto a sit so Wrath could stroke his ear

Unable to stand the silence anymore, Ruhn cleared his throat "My Lord, if I may…"

"Yeah?" Wrath rolled his shoulder so it let out a crack that was so loud, Ruhn had to wince "G’head"

"Do you wishbrows dropped behind black wraparounds "I asked you here Why would I want you to leave?"

"The mansion, my Lord"

"What?"

"I can reh I would like to stay in Caldwell to keep up with Bitty--"

"What the fuck are you talking about"

Not a question More like a gun pointed to his head

In the silence that followed, Ruhn glanced at the golden retriever--who prouest, but he had to vote with his s

"I assuht?" Ruhn said

As the King opened his ested there wasahead, instead of less "Le about?"

Saxton entered and closed the double doors behind himself "In a way," the "

Ruhn cleared his throat and felt stupid He should never have taken the aristocrat at his word "I was only trying to help I was careful so as not to score the stone steps and--"

"Okay, I don’t knohat you’re going on about and I don’t care" Wrath shoved his hair back with a slashing hand "You’re here because Saxton tells ot a job for you"

Ruhn looked back and forth between theave you that idea?"

Ruhn didn’t bother keeping the exhale to himself "Oh, my Lord, thank you Whatever you require of me, be assured that I shall do it to the best of enerosity"

"Great I want you to take hi probleive me, my Lord, but I cannot read or write How could I ever help the Royal Solicitor with his work?"

Saxton stepped forward, and as he did, his scent reached Ruhn’s nose--which seeain, none of this visit see," the male said, "would like me to be accompanied for the purpose of protection on my visit to the civilian The Brothers, soldiers, and trainees are otherwise occupied in the field, guarding this house, or resting, and assigning one of them to this task would be a misappropriation of sorts"

Wrath put his palm up "Look I just want you to be there in case any of these humans comes doith a terminal case of the stupids This is not a wartime situation, but I also don’t like the idea of Saxton out there without anyone watching his back And word has it…you kno to fight--very fucking well, indeed"

As Ruhn looked away, he could feel Saxton staring at him--and there was a temptation to deny or…at least diminish the past Of course, he couldn’t do that without contradicting his King--and outright lying Besides, surely the solicitor had been told about hier," Wrath pronounced, "but I can’t pro you can’t handle, though--not hat you’ve already faced"

As an old, faht of a rew silent

"You don’t have to," Wrath said in an even tone "This is not a condition for you to remain in the house"