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"I’ht I add, are you I’ve never been to Dover before, and I don’t knohat sort of transport is available or what it costs But I’ure it out to our eventual satisfaction"

My hands made fists in the thick stuff of ainst the leather corset with every breath Being so near hiry and unsettled in a way I couldn’t place

"Besides," he added, grinning in the face of my fury, "it’s not like you have any options"

"You tread on erously close "You’re cute when you’re angry I like a girl with spirit"

I took a deep breath, hampered by the corset I couldn’t let him kno irl, Casper" My voice was softer than I meant it to be, softer than he’d heard it before Whether I was re him that I was fully mature or that I was of a different species, I didn’t know Being near him made me muddled, as if I was always half-drained

"So that’s how it is," he said softly to himself One hand crept up to touch ently

"I will do whatever it takes to get back toup with you"

I stepped away, breathing out through htly wrong and yet so right I needed to get out of the cluttered shop, where every ht the other closer in proximity London was definitely not a safe town for me, even if my suitcase coffin had never reached the tasseinist’s clever hands

"Good Then get ready Our bank leaves froate in two hours"

He opened the box he’d dragged in, a lady’s traveling trunk I expected to see gowns and boots and jewels, but instead, it was divided into two sections One held clothes, papers, and books The other side held a crate of blood vials, each snuggled in its own little niche

"I traded my harpsichord for this," he said But I couldn’t take er, the need for blood as annoying and constant as a hair caught in my corset I licked rabbed my shoulders, and I hissed and tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let go His eyes clouded over, his teeth bared in fury, and his fingers dug into flesh that was still tender fro’s claws There was a ferocity in the lines of his body, in the growl of his musical voice, that made me see him as more than a meal, as more than just a human His eyes reminded me of a frozen lake, of the deep darkness trapped in ice, and being so near him made my breath catch in my throat But I had seen what happened to noble Bludworew too attached Humiliation and heavy fines and, if they weren’t careful and contrite, public disfigurement I looked down Would they accept lement?

"Look at me, Ahnastasia You’re not a princess now And I’m not some lowly trash I’m your only way out of here The least you can do is acknowledgeyou that I sold the last piece of my soul for a box of blood For you"

"I didn’t ask for your soul," I snapped "I’m nearly drained I need asped into his ainst his chest with er than I had iined His ressive against , and I couldn’t breathe I realizedhim anymore; they were curled into his shirt

And then he shoved hly away

"You’re not the only one with needs," he said raggedly "You et that I’loved hand to ainst mine He had stolen my first kiss, the bastard Just another reason toat his sides as his eyes searchedhe didn’t seerier than ever

"The only thing I need is blood" I was surprised at how tinyyourself that You kissed me back"

"I didn’t"

Finally, his eyes released ed thread I stepped back, er there He stepped away fro his leather satchel It clanked lightly, and " He gave me a crooked smile "And I sahat you did to ht back in that suitcase where I found you"

"The feather and the coin--" I started, but he cut ain"