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And I really need to powder my nose, my bladder chih by ht around a container corner without pausing to look first

My progress was halted by a well-knoall o’into each other like this," I croaked, my nose smushed into Anyan’s leather jacket As the familiar scent of leave and I started sliding to the ground The barghest caughtsoftly as he steadiedhands, I felt a powerful, if inappropriate, desire to jump into his arms I knew he’d carry me to safety, and I wanted safety--at thatelse in my life I was so not cut out for the role of action-adventure heroine

Iainst his solid bulk with a sigh Anyan stiffened, obviously surprised But then he softened, crouching down to wrap his ar His power followed his arods, Jane, are you all right? You scared h but his hands were gentle as he eased them over my arms, down my waist, and then up and overme for injury, but I reacted to his touch like a startled horse My labored breathing eased,heart calmed beat by beat

"I’ve lived for nearly three hundred and fifty years, wo to be the death of hest’s shoulder before raising my face to meet his eyes "But I think I hurt hi around us, rubbing against iant affectionate cats

"What did you do? You’re totally drained"

"I pulled out a can of whoopass, Anyan Big, strong whoopass" My knees buckled again, and Anyan swore

"Next ti me steady

"I don’t kno to use half," I whined, trying to get"It was either use a whole can of whoopass, or make sweet love to Conleth I chose the whoopass"

My bravado was short-lived, however, as one from concerned to horrified when I’d said "make sweet love" and "Conleth" in the same sentence, went back to concerned as he held ot away," I reminded his worried frown I didn’t really want to be the death of hiirl," he said, a hint of a s, crooked nose

I peered up at the barghest,in consternation I was about to reote by the standards of his people, by huerently, at the very sas We were suddenly nose to nose, and his gray eyes were as wide asht?"

"Yes," Anyan said, crouching down the rest of the way to finish playing doctor When he was satisfied I wasn’t hurt, he stood back up to tower over me "But he’ll be a lot better when he knows you’re safe Let’s go find the others"

He took s steady We walked and walked,to and fro between the walls made by all the various containers But Anyan’s nose itching the whole ti issue, however, that I couldn’t wait any longer to address

"Uhest stopped "What?"

"Is there a bathrooaround to stare at me like I was crazy

"No, I’m not I really have to pee I drank, like, a whole liter of water, and when I get stressed, I always need to pee Getting kidnapped is stressful Really, really stressful"

Anyan shook his head "Jane, I don’t even knohere to begin I’ to rescue you fronating you And you want to take a potty break"