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Our eyes met and the tension – as if it ever really left – caain faced by the fact that Derek was i tired of the issue, but the urge to find the cure was even ure out what the cure was

Troubled, I shook the thoughts away and finished my breakfast I then turned toward Derek and said, "I think we better go Long day ahead"

Derek groaned and blew out a sigh I was expecting hioodbye, and run off Instead, he reminded me why I was so in love with him when he took my hands and coaxed me to stand up He heldether, Sofia I know it" He said it with soif he didn’t have any doubts about that stateet by

"We’re together now," I whispered "That’s what matters"

Derek was still onfor me at the entrance of The Catacoan to race There was a tiet worried, because it usually ood, but I had to re now

She raised a brow at me, but there was a twinkle in her eyes "I was told that I was to be your bodyguard" Her face deadpanned "Why me of all people? Even Yuri was surprised"

"Well, you’re the only varid I was thinking you knehat made her tick, so I requested that you co crazy, are you?"

She grinned and shrugged "Well…" she drawled "We never really knohen the dark Claudia ood"

"The dark Claudia?" I chuckled

She san to head for the corridors that would lead to Ingrid’s cell "Yes… the one as stupid enough to think that she valued power more than she valued love"

At that, I had to return her slow about her whenever she smiled – it was one that could only be found in a person in love Since I first ush, and yet that was exactly what she was doing right then

I was about to tease her about Yuri, but then her eyes lit up and I quickly realized why Yuri had just caught up with us

Everyone in The Shade knew that Yuri was in love with Claudia – even Claudia herself – but for sohting and bickering andeach other miserable, but whenever the other was in trouble, they were always there for each other They were always the first to get worried about the other It wasn’t until Claudia betrayed Derek by helping to abduct me and take me to Borys Maslen’s territory that she realized how in love she actually ith Yuri When she got back to The Shade, it didn’t take long before the two of the here?" Claudia slapped Yuri’s shoulder

"I wanted to trust you… really, Claudia, I did, but I also wanted toSofia We all kno crazy you are"

Claudia rolled her eyes "That’s actually his way of saying that he wants to spendyourself, Claudia," Yuri scowled "Why on earth would I want to spend time with you?"

"Because no one else can do this to you…" Claudia reached up and kissed him forcefully

The public display of affection turned Yuri’s pale vaht pink Even I blushed as I averted ave Yuri a self-satisfied smile "No one can do that to you and "

It was obvious as Yuri bit his lip that he liked what had just happened, but he quickly recovered and shot me an embarrassed look "Aren’t you ashamed of what Sofia would think?"

"Ashamed of what she would think?" Claudia’s eyes widened "Weren’t you there all those times she and Derek publicly professed their love for each other? They’re the king and queen of public displays of affection"

Yuri chuckled as he shot ot to admit, Sofia," he teased "She has a point"

To my sheer relief, I found I didn’t need to corid’s cell was already in sight I drew a breath, not quite knohat to expect Encounters I shared with my mother weren’t always pleasant and I couldn’t find a reason that this particular one would be any different