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Tears rolled down her nose in fat drops She hadn’t even realized she was crying

Creator, I think I’ more than to promise herself to this ht in her throat He looked at her with such sincerity, such love, that she could not stand the thought of betraying hi a step back from him "Thamos, I …"

"What is it, ether Even without wardsight, she could see the change in his eyes as he stood

"Night, the rumors are true," Thamos said "I had three of my men whipped for such talk just last week, but they spoke honest word The de thousands and filling all Thesa with a vagrant refugee class that will last for generations You ripping stuck hiossips tell it," Leesha snapped "I wasn’t promised to you when I lay with him, Thamos We hardly knew each other I didn’t even know you were co by the thousand," Tha no effort to deny it

"If they were," Leesha asked, "and you could slow their advance and learn their plans by bedding the, then," Thamos said

Leesha slapped hiht His face was a snarl as he balled his great fists

Leesha was edging her hand toward the pouch where she kept her blinding pohen he gave a shout and storhtwolf He gave another shout, punching the goldwood post of his great bed

"Aaaahhh!" he cried, clutching the hand

Leesha rushed to hih?!" Thauish, reddened and tear-streaked

Leesha looked at hi Just sit still for a moment and let me see"

Thamos limply allowed himself to be led to the bed, where they sat as Leesha pulled his protective hand away and exaed one It was red, with the skin torn at the knuckles, but it could have beenbroken," she said Froent and cloth, cleaning and dressing the wound "Just put it in a bowl of ice …"

"Is there at least a chance it’s

Leesha took a deep breath, shaking her head She could al in her chest There was still a chance with Thamos, and she had just crushed it

"I love you," she whispered "I swear it If I could go back and change things, I would I know I led you on At first it was to protect the child, but only at first"

"What was it after?" Thamos asked

"Because I want to be your countess," Leesha said "More than anything, I want it"

Thaain "If that’s honest word, then prove it Brew Weed Gatherer’s tea and flush the child Start anew, as mine"

Leesha blinked It had not surprised her when her ested it, and no doubt Inevera and Araine would want the sas, when they had to But she never thought Thamos would murder an innocent child

"No," she said "I drank the tea once--without even knowing if there was a life growing in ret of h!" Tha it across the room Leesha stiffened Thaht Why would it be different here? She rose as well, edging toward the secret door to the gardens

And Wonda