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"Caia, if the Council discover what Marita is up to there will be no election" Lucien shook his head "They will kill Marita"

"No, no, we’re better than that, than her" She jerked her head "I would ask for them to keep her alive She could keep the trace, work forfor her"

He snorted "Yeah, I can see that happening"

"She would have to It would be her only choice"

Lucien ran a frustrated hand through his hair as his silver eyes drank her in He was quiet for so long, and she kneasn’t as convinced as she was Still, he kissed her softly, and wrapping her in his ares and banners, you can write the speeches"

Caia s her, and she pulled hile themselves from each other to make the difficult decision to lie to Marion When they found her waiting in the Reception for the her She and Lucien walked with a deliberate distance between theik Caia winced, watching Marion slu at Lucien as if he were to blame

Tactful as always, however, she didn’t mention the state of their relationship

"Ready then" She heaved an exasperated sigh, gesturing to the portal awaiting them past the security

Lucien surprised her by pulling her into a hug "Thanks for everything, Marion"

Caia wanted to slap hiive theled unexpectedly at his affection and pushed hi apparently," she tut-tutted hi theher hardest to ignore hiht of hied Marion and prayed to Gaia that her friend would forgive her as she lied, "See you in a few days"

"Hmm, yes you will" Marion shook her head at her as she pulled back "Silly girl"

With a vague gesture, Caia smiled wryly at her and headed towards Lucien, aited by the portal for her

Wary of Marion’s eyes on the she wanted to do He reached for it tentatively but gripped it tight

Relief and anxiety poured through her as the gel-like quality of the portal slithered across her skin Inin from the laic Fitness

She felt like a bird freed froe, only to find it was now so tame it had no idea how to survive on its own

"Are you OK?" Lucien pulled her to hi her in his solid co to do this," she hter underneath her and she buried deeper into him

"Yeah, I can’t believe you are either But I believe in you"

Tilting her head back she was surprised to find his eyes smoke with fierceness "You really do, don’t you?"

"You need to stop sounding surprised by that"

She smiled shyly "But I a her out of the roo to be this badlike you’re aware you’re the bomb"

She snorted "The bo lot "Was that wrong?"

"So wrong it was painful"

He shrugged, unfazed "Well, you knohat Iher shoulders back "I have to be confident, rinned "That’s what Idown by the wheel of his truck Yellow clamps stood between the in the lot for days now

"Do you want ers

Lucien huffed, "This doesn’t need ik" He quickly looked around the lot to ripped the claentlest of tugs the clamp split in two and he pulled it out froestured for Caia to get in

"Wow" She smiled cheekily as she slid her seat belt on

"What?"

"Was that a deliberate atterunted and started the engine, speeding out of the lot before anyone found them with the cla you that I haveyourself"

Caia snuggled into her seat "You don’t how good that is to hear"

He reached across the distance between the one hand on the wheel and his eyes on the road "You’re my mate"

She bit her lip, undecided whether she should ask the question that had been sneaking closer and closer to the forefront of her mind since Lucien had declared his love for her