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"Ryu cares for you, I know that," he said, reluctantly "But you must understand that his position and his ambition make him…" He paused "Not untrustworthy, in the sense that he would intentionally harerous, nonetheless Until we knohat Jarl’s attack means, we must keep it to ourselves Please, you must trust me"

Our faces were inches apart, and his eyes were so earnest that I paused Mentally, however, I was scra, ready to come to my man’s defense Of course I had to tell Ryu what had happened here, tonight He was Ryu, fercrissakes

But before I could articulate ods, Jane," barked a faainst the wall, rising painfully to ht," Ryu babbled happily, till his eyes lit on Anyan He stopped dead in his tracks

"Ryu," I sobbed, suddenlyon earlier I ed to stand and made my way over to him, where he folded me in his aring to him like a barnacle He did smell a bit foul, actually--but underneath the blood and the sas the familiar scent of Ryu

He caressed the back of ainst hest here?"

I openedAbout Wally and his arans and their possible treachery, about Nyx and the eyeball, and, most important, about Jarl and his attack on me

But for some reason I paused, just for a moment, and looked back Anyan had stood up and ate that led to the pool Ithe floor as they were du what he’d been trying to tell me I trusted Ryu, I really did And I knew that he wouldn’t stand to seethe barghest with a decidedly unfriendly expression I noticed Ryu’s cheek was already healed "I don’t really know," I said, finally "IWhen I woke up I was out here, with Anyan He healed ate closing behindlast, he shook his head and said, "Okay, Jane As long as you’re safe, I’m happy" His arms were back around me and I relaxed into his hard embrace Better late than never, I understood Anyan’s words Ryu cared for me, and he took his job seriously If I told hiht noith no evidence beside a half-huht, as I wipedand he was already filthy It wasn’t ideal but he was holding ht I couldn’t move my arms

"Did you just wipe your nose on ht with various emotions, but "oh no you didn’t" had clawed its way to the top of the list

"Maybe," Ia handkerchief from his back pocket With which he wiped his already filthy shirt and thento do with you?"

"Take ested, hopefully

"Of course," he said, although his eyes were sad "I promised, didn’t I? But first, I’ll take you to bed" After wiping ain to be on the safe side, he picked ht to his chest, he covered htly but I figured if he could handle ood shape at this point, either "I was so scared when I couldn’t find you," he said, eventually

"I was scared, too," I said, very truthfully

"I’ turned out the way it has This was not how I i you to Alfar society"

"I know, Ryu I know" Then I re "Did you kill Jimmu?" I asked, rather surprised at howatvery obstreperous about it," he added "He just wouldn’t cooperate and die"