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His eyes warht--this is it, this is when he will kiss h from the doorway

Jacin recoiled

Winter spun around, heart thundering

Aihness"

Catching her breath, Winter tucked a curl behind her ear--it must have fallen loose from the braid She arm all over Flustered and nervous and aware that she should be embarrassed, but she waselse

"Thau one ofhtest he return to his post"

Jacin clicked his heels and left wordlessly, though it was impossible to tell if it was by his own volition or if Ai him

Still trying to coe "It must be time to leave for the docks?"

"Nearly," he said, and, to her surprise, he turned and shut the door to the corridor Her fingers twitched defensively, but not out of concern for herself Poor Jacin would hate to be left stranded on the other side, unable to protect her should anything happen

Which was an inane thought Even if Jacin was present, he could do nothing against a thauht this was a weakness in their security She never trusted the thauiven so e killed her father, and she never got over this fact To this day, a long sleeve caught from the corner of her eye too oftenyou needed?" she asked, trying to appear unconcerned She was still recovering fro to the back of her neck She wanted to lie down for a minute, but she didn’t want to appear any weaker than she already did Than she already was

"I have cohness," said Ai on for soree is beneficial to us both I have already suggested the idea to Her Majesty, and she has voiced her approval, on the condition of your consent"

His voice was both slippery and kind Alhen she was in Aimery’s presence Winter wished to both coay and curl up sleepily beneath his steady tiive me, Aimery, my brain is stilldifficulties understanding you"

His gaze slipped over her, lingering on her scars and on her curves, and Winter was glad she didn’t involuntarily shudder

"Princess Winter Blackburn" He slinked closer She couldn’t resist taking a step back before she ed to stop herself Fear was a weakness in the court Much better to act unperturbed Much safer to act crazy, when in doubt

She wished she had not told hione on bleeding

"You are a darling of the people Beloved Beautiful" His fingers stroked beneath her chin, with the delicacy of a feather This time, she did shudder "Everyone knows you will never be queen, but that does not mean you cannot wield your own sort of power An ability to appease the people, to bring thereatly It is important that we show the people your support for the royal faree?"

Her skin had becooose bumps "I have always shown support for the queen"

"Certainly you have, my princess" His smile was lovely when he wanted it to be, and the loveliness of it curdled her stoain, he looked at her scars "But your steprand stateesture that shohere you fit into this hierarchy It is time, Princess, for you to take a husband"