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"Trolls?" Lilly’s eyebrows rose

"Surely you realize there are more supernaturals than just the ones you know about, little one"

Lilly shrugged "Doesn’t mean it’s not still freakish"

"Thea, that wasan alliance with the trolls My brother warned her to stay out of the council business, but that only spurred her on She sought out the leader of the trolls to try and speak with him, but it wasn’t the leader she ht back to that day He could still see Thea walking away fro her forbid her to seek out the trolls He had seen the defiance in her eyes and knew that she wouldn’t listen If only he had followed her, if only he had told his brother sooner He was drawn from the memories by a warm hand on his ar It gave hi me to see reason, those were her words I told her that she was not to go, but so in her eyes told me she would defy me I had met with the leader of the trolls and I knew that he wouldn’t hurt her He was actually an honorable male, but like any leader, he not only had loyal followers, but corrupt followers as well I figured he would walk her back to their keep, all the while sporting a dubious s at her innocence And, he would have, had it been him who had met her But, when she went to the troll ainst the peace between their races They saw an opportunity to destroy that peace She never had a chance And, they succeeded in destroying the peace The enmity betarlocks and trolls still exist to this day I can’t even describe the things they did to her I should have followed her It wasto protect her, even if it was from herself"

Lilly shook her head "It was your brother’s job, and even then, she had free will Regardless of the outcome and how horrible, Thea made that choice I don’t say that to be mean, but you cannot take responsibility for her choice"

Cypher couldn’t believe that he didn’t see conde and eardless of what Lilly said, she didn’t understand the responsibility he had for his race He had failed to protect that which was o When he and his brother had found her body, he had lost it His torible that Cypher felt it in his soul As soon as the shock wore off he had turned on Cypher He could hear the words reverberating in his ; you knehat she would do! You should have co; her blood is on your hands" His brother screamed at him All Cypher had been able to do was bow his head in defeat He fell to his knees in shame at the truth behind his brother’s words He allowed his brother to beat hiuards saved him from his brother’s wrath He wanted to die, wanted his brother to kill him It hat he deserved The council locked his brother up until they felt he was no longer a threat But, Cypher knew that if his brother were given the chance he would kill him Time passed, years, decades, centuries, and still, there had been no word from him

"Cypher"

He realized that Lilly had been saying his na that horrible day His vision refocused on her and he smiled at the determination in her face

"It’s not your fault Say it with me," she coaxed

Cypher shook his head "I’m sorry love, but this tioing to change his mind She knehen to back off Noas not the time, but the day would come when she would make him understand

"So, what now?" she asked him

Cypher looked over at Cyn "Do you kno otten the drahieht "It’s actually quite a surprise to h a veil They are very suspicious ani about drahieht have?" Lilly asked