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"So I should help him build a new foundation the way he thinks it should be built?" Which re doall because you think the room will look better when all you were asked to do was paint

"A year from now, you can walk away froheaded?" Burle shrugged "Probably couldn’t have survived if he wasn’t"

Nothing to say when Poppi put it like that

"I’ll tell you what else I figured out in these few hours You and Theran ht not be as far apart as you both see to prove so to his people Maybe, Kitten, the reason you’re scrapping instead of working together is that you both want tooin your oay"

CHAPTER 18

TERREILLE

Cassidy pulled her nightgown over her head, then pressed a hand against her abdoot

Well, Shira warned her that it would hurtto find out how much more

She called in her supplies and tucked theot into bed, feeling chilled despite the ht She plu But she didn’t feel like reading

When she first arrived in Dena Nehele, it felt like an adventure, like a chance to do soood Since then, she felt like she was constantly slogging through e deeper She could see the value of looking at this like a contract job, but that didn’t see either, because every ti, he danced away froestions but wouldn’t make any of his own because that wasn’t a First Escort’s duty

And why not? If his reason for opposing her suggestions was superior knowledge of as happening in the Provinces and villages, why didn’t he share the information?

Sweet Darkness, she missed her father, and he’d left only yesterday

Cassidy snorted "Left out a few details in my letter, my eye" The dresser had already been made, and the wood had been cut for a sht a ood idea of how big the bed could be

It had been an excuse to come visit, but she wasn’t sure whose idea it had been--her father’s, Prince Sadi’s, or the High Lord’s Didn’t matter Besides her own tiood for Gray One of Burle’s sayings was "Work hard, but work smart," and his practical balance of when to use muscle and when to use Craft--and when to rest--helped Gray feel less wounded

And the occasional silly smile on Gray’s face, combined with a twinkle in Burle’s eyes, ht have wondered e to enter the house and join them for meals the last day Burle was there

That had been her father’s finest piece of work

The only person who hadn’t warly polite Even Talon, after he’d realized Burle wasn’t uneasy about being around sos to play cards or just talk

Only Theran had viewed her less-than-aristo background as further proof that she wasn’t worthy of ruling Dena Nehele

"Let hi the book aside, since even reading seeht

As she pulled the covers up and tried to find a co on her suite’s door

Cassie? Cassie!

To avoid getting out of bed, she used Craft to open the door to the suite and the glass doors that led into her bedroom

You are not downstairs with the males, Vae said as soon as she entered the bedrooht," Cassidy replied And needed so when every male around her would react to the scent of moon’s blood--and to the fact that she would be vulnerable, unable to use her oer during the first three days without causing herself debilitating pain

You are not well? Vae asked

An odd hesitation in the question, and the sa a human would use to ask about such a personal subject But ould the Sceltie know, or care, about her moontime?

"Want to keep me company?" Cassidy asked

Vae jumped up on the bed and lay down next to her Cassidy put her ar and cuddled closer, the war the ache in her lower belly as her , she shifted her head to a more comfortable spot on the pillows, and fell sleep

Vae dozed on and off throughout the night, waiting for the change in scent that would tell her for certain if Cassie was one home or if it was the blood time that meant Cassie wasn’t safe around males Even the males ere supposed to protect her

It wasn’t sensible for human fes about humans that were not sensible That hy Scelties had been looking after hu time

Cassie was a Queen, and her court should protect her Theran should protect her