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Ismore"

"The William I know doesn’t make friends o they wake up in his bed, thoroughly seduced" He stalked to the door and opened it, o have a chat about his intentions toward you"

She reet sick--"

His curse assaulted her ears and she flinched

"If I get sick," she repeated, "I’ll heal I have every tioing"

"Good thing?" he spat, incredulous "Keeley, youthat’s ever happened to ood chance I’ll kill you for it" He walked aithout a backward glance

Tears welled up with surprising force, stinging as a sudden rain pattered against theHe orried She knew that And he was drowning in guilt She knew that, too A million times he’d asked how he could continue to do this to her, but maybe the real question was: How could she continue to do this to hih theh, she strolled into the hallhere an array of boxes was stacked against the walls Eachdifferent Ebony Ivory Marble Gold Silver Jade The prezzies?

Hands tre, she opened the one on top--and found a minion’s black heart nestled inside a bed of red velvet Also a note Froain See you soon Yours, H

One of the best presents ever, sure, but anger flourished like the flowers in the pots, sprouting thorns rather than petals, and the fortress shook Deep breath inoutshe crumpled up the note and let it float to the floor Another deep breath inout

The shaking stopped

Torin returned "Is that a heart?" He bent down, picked up the paper and stiffened as he read "Never again what?"

Keeley flashed a large barrel of whiskey into the hall, re the hearts--boxes, too--inside

"What are you doing?" Torin asked

"Can’t you guess?" Regifting

"What’s he doing?"