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Anytime the "real" princess had committed a crime, Josephina had been the one punished for it She would have endured whippings, beatings, stonings and probably a thousand other things he couldn’t bring himself to consider That’s why she’d ended up in hell

Oh, Tinker Bell Poor, sweet Tinker Bell The very things he’d endured during the worst weeks of his life, she had endured for a lifetime No wonder she wanted to die

Kane’s jaw clenched, the only reason he was able to silence the spew of curses brewing at the back of his throat No, the king would never let her go Not for any price Not for any reason

I won’t let her go for any price or any reason, either

Oh, really? asked Disaster

The Fae next to Kane tripped, falling into hi him to the side "I’m so sorry I don’t knohat happened," the htened

"He’s so beautiful More so than I ever iined And he’s just like , "I want hi stiffened, only to relax a s in his brain clearly churning in a direction Kane wouldn’t like "I do find the thought of our fa"

No He didn’t like it In any other situation, the threat would have enraged hireat honor of wedding our daughter, Princess Synda," the king said, a statement rather than a question

He liked that even less

But okay All right Kane needed to stay in this realreed to a wedding, he ht be allowed free run of the palace If he didn’t, he would have to fight the army every second of his stay

"Sure," he said with a nod "Fine Whatever I’ll wed your daughter" He wasn’t wedding anyone "But Tink--Josephina can’t be harh the roo druainst the shaft of his scepter "We would love nothing more than to accommodate your request, Lord Kane, but a criht, and a price must be paid That’s why Servant Josephina is here"

"What criht with the butcher’s son, a male far below her station Worse, a human"

"Then punish Princess Synda" Proble’s head, firs around here, Lord Kane Since the spawning of our race, blood slaves have helped ensure the well-being of the royal family"

"I see" The blood slaves had also helped ensure the maliciousness of the royal family "And what’s to be Josephina’s punishment for Synda’s crime?"

"Servant Josephina will be shunned for one month Anyone who speaks to her will be killed"

Better than he could have hoped Still, Kane squared his shoulders and braced his legs apart, preparing for battle "Well, then, we’ve got our first real probleotiable"

Crystal eyes narrowed "Very well," the king said after a few ht, "but you will be lashed for every word"

"What?" soasped out

"No Not Lord Kane!" another cried

"No," Tinker Bell croaked

Kane cut her a sharp glance Silence

She shook her head, dark hair wisping over her shoulders, saying, "Don’t do this"

Still looking out for him, even after he’d failed her so , he said, "I will never willingly submit to such a punishth he could summon "I doubt you can force me--" except for Evil Overload, and his ability, but then, Kane could reue and that problem would be settled, too "--and the men that try will pay a very dear price"

Behind him, a female fainted

The princess flattened her hand over her heart and grinned "He’s so wonderfully fierce How soon can the wedding be planned?"

"Excellent question We’ll ives us ten days" The king slammed his scepter into the marble floor so forcefully cracks formed in both "Now Everyone will return to their duties And you," he snarled at Kane "You will joinback and forth over the already-clean upper staircase banister, surprised she hadn’t diht and clouds A chandelier hovered just above her, the rotating strea but air, casting rainbow flecks in every direction, even the floor many stories below

I wish I could jump

Stupid Kane He should have killed her when he’d had the chance Now, she was going to make hiree to wed Princess Synda?

Synda would lie to hiirl’s desire always burned white-hot, but died quickly She would chew Kane up and spit hi left of him but bones Bones Josephina had risked her life to save