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Those words stayed put, however It seeh Ruhn knew too well the price that had had to be paid

"My father was the opposite" Saxton sat back as their plates were cleared "I never wanted to be like him I still do not"

"He could not…accept you?"

"Merely not acceptingHe hates me for who and what I am He would rather I were dead It didn’t used to be that way But once h he went bad"

"I aht the aristocracy was more…I don’t knohat the word is…"

As Ruhn trailed off, Saxton nodded "Oh, it’s permissible provided it is neither seen nor heard When I refused to mate a female from an appropriate bloodline, Father kicked me out of the family, out of the house, out of the will I was supposed to walk in his shoes, after all Be a solicitor, take over the estate and finances Procreate to produce the next generation of the glyay But in his opinion, which is the only one that matters in his world, he chose the proper way toonOf course, she was tolerant of the arrangeard, they were perfectly lad you did not mate a female you did not care for"

"Me, too What it cost me in ter who I a?"

Saxton took a sip of water to try to hide a sudden rush of eht"

"I never thought about it until I started to spendher the stories of her mahmen and ranhrandfather ive her, really, but she seems to truly want the stories Itmy parents alive, her mahmen alive I loved my family so much Even ood person, Ruhn And I wish I’d grown up the way you did We had all kinds ofunder that expansive roof"

"When you are poor, all you have are the people in your life Who they are and who they are to you? That is the wealth you have in the world That is the wealth you pass down to the next generation That is what I arateful her new parents understand and accept me in her life"

When the check cahts ago, Wrath has put h I have earned it"

"Well, I’ll have to thank you for the ht"

Cue that blush Oh, yes…that lovely blush

After Ruhn took out some bills and placed theot up and walked through the ood to be a part of the world, to be out with a lover he cared deeply for, to be eating and drinking, talking and walking, going to work and looking forward to cos seemed more vivid, the smells of the food, the sounds of the human talk…the sensation as Ruhn reached behind himself and Saxton took the palnified

Outside, the cold was a welco to brace oneself against, and the slippery, partially salted as a fun excuse to cling to Ruhn’s arether, to the alley that led to the back of the restaurant

There, in the shadows, they kissed for the longest tih winter clothes and scarves and gloves, the hours they were to be apart like an obstacle course to be suro to Mistress Miniahna’s to check the house," Ruhn said as they finally eased back

"I shall go back there as soon as Wrath and I are finished"

"Okay, then See you soon"

"I cannot wait"

As Saxton closed his eyes to deust shot down between the restaurant and the card shop next door But it ht, tropical breeze