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"Wait a ht

"No,you wait, Lady" Thera’s green eyes flashed "You’ve been the target all along Not us, LiaYouDon’t try to deny it You’ll only sound like a fool"

Gray eyes clashed with green

Jared braced himself, not sure what to expect

Lia lowered her eyes first Leaning forward, she ra?" she asked no one

"Dorothea’s probably asking the sao There’s nothing to hold you No one will stop you, any of you, fro home"

Thera took a deep breath and let it out slowly "If you make that same offer to everyone here, some, like Tomas and Cathryn, will stay with you because there’s nowhere they’d rather be; souard Dena Nehele’s future; and one will stay to destroy it"

Thera took a last sip of whiskey and handed the bottle to Blaed "I’ve decided I’d like to settle in Dena Nehele and take you up on your offer to finishwith yourinterest in the land’s future and the Queen ill rule there Besides, I’ to raise my children in a Territory that stands in Hayll’s shadow"

Blaed paled, then gulped some whiskey "W-whose children?"

"Probably yours" Thera snapped "Unless you annoy ulp of whiskey As he linked his fingers with Thera’s, he gave therin "We’re really not slaves?"

Lia wrapped her arms around her stoot sillier when he looked at Jared "Is there a Priestess in this village of yours?"

"What?" Thera yelped

Jared coughed politely "There used to be I’m sure she’d be pleased to officiate over a handfast"

"Wait afutilely to free her hand "I haven’t agreed to--"

"Excuse led voice "I have to find a bush" She flung the door open and tuan

"Stay," Thera said

Toe a man’s ball hairs

"Sorry," Jared muttered as he bolted out the door

Thera’s shout wasa stab of envy, Jared corked the whiskey bottle and vanished it

And realized he wasarea was rewarded by an annoyed ed from behind the bushes, less than pleased to see hio to Ranon’s Wood," Lia said quietly

"Fine" Jared replied politely

He knew that would be her decision--not because of the help they’d find there, but because it was his home If she’d realized it was that close, she probably would have headed there a lot sooner

Getting her charges ho one more to safety before her luck ran out She’d focus on that until they reached Ranon’s Wood

Too late, she’d realize her error

Jared s Lia try to dodge around his father’s code of honor

Chapter Sixteen

Barely dawn Barely light enough to see Didn’tfro posts He didn’t strike between the ribs and into the heart for a fast kill, but in the belly, in the guts Over and over again

The strawback and forth with each blow Back and forth

Over and over and over

There was nothing wrong with his planNothing

Except that bitch-Queen had tricked hih Priestess was becoood It wasn’tsafe