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"He hasn’t hurt anyone since his blood-curse was re

"He helped one of Lucifer’s ion And yes, Aeron did that But he ensures the little demon stays away from most humans Those she does interact with, she treats with kindness Well, her version of kindness"

"That doesn’t change the fact that Aeron helped the creature escape"

Olivia’s shoulders sagged, though she in no way appeared defeated Deterleamed in her eyes "I know But he’s so…nice"

Lysander barked out a laugh He just couldn’t help hi of a Lord of the Underworld, yes? The one whose entire body is tattooed with violent, bloody ies no less? That is the s are violent," she mumbled, offended for some reason "Two are butterflies"

For her to have found the butterflies a the hed "Have you…felt anything for him?" Physically?

"What do you mean?" she asked, but rosy color bloomed on her cheeks

She had, then "Never mind" He scrubbed a hand down his suddenly tired face "Do you like your home, Olivia?"

She blanched at that, as if she knew the direction he was headed "Of course"

"Do you like your wings? Do you like your lack of pain, no matter the injury sustained? Do you like the robe you wear? A robe that cleans itself and you?"

"Yes," she replied softly She gazed down at her hands "You know I do"

"And you know that you will lose all of that and more if you fail to do your duty" The words were harsh,into her eyes "I just hoped you could convince the council to rescind their order to execute him"

"I will not even try" Honest, he reminded himself He had to be honest Which he preferred Or had "Rules are put into place for a reason, whether we agree with those reasons or not I have been around a long tied into darkness and chaos And do you knohat? That darkness and chaos always sprang from one broken rule Just one Because when one is broken, another soon follows Then another It becomes a vicious cycle"

A hed, nodded "Very well" Words of acceptance uttered in a tone that was anything but

"You will do your duty?" What he was really asking: Will you slay Aeron, keeper of Wrath, whether you want to or not? Lysander wasn’t askingwhat he wouldn’t do himself

Another nod One of those tears slid down her cheek

He reached out and captured the glistening drop with the tip of his finger "Your compassion is admirable, but it will destroy you if you allow it so much power over you"

She waved the prediction away Perhaps because she did not believe it, or perhaps because she believed it but had no plans to change and therefore didn’t want to discuss it anymore "So as the woman in your home? The one in the portraits?"

He…blushed? Yes, that was the heat spreading over his cheeks "My…" How should he explain Bianka? How could he, without lying?

"Lover?" she finished for him

His cheeks flushed with more of that heat "No" Maybe No! "She isaway any details "And now," he said, standing If she could end a subject, so could he "I must return to her before she causes any more trouble" He must deal with her Once and for all

OLIVIA REMAINED IN PLACE long after Lysander left Had that blushing, uncertain, distracted man truly been her mentor? She’d known him for centuries, and he’d always been unflappable Even in the heat of battle

The woman was responsible, she was sure Lysander had never kept one in his cloud before Did he feel for her what Olivia felt for Aeron?Aeron