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His face hardened iotten howan affair with Winter," Wolfe growled "It’s been over between us for a long time"

I wanted to believe him Wolfe wasn’t the kind of man who lied And I knew, deep down, as I sneered at him and composed myself that - because it was easier this way - I was deliberately choosing to believe otherwise I shook lare burn through ardens and away fro I woreall I had packed were travelling gowns, and sat next to Chaeron hoping his soothing presence would get h it Winter sat at the head of the table with Wolfe at her side As per usual she was dressed as perfectly as a doll, flawless, refined A lady

Wolfe and I refused to look at each other and I knew Chaeron was confused by the tension at the table A tension that greorse when it became apparent that Winter had cooled towards ned to speak to ht little smile and hard eyes My protective Lieutenant bridled beside me at her rudeness, but as Winter was Vojvodkyna and Chaeron ahand on his ar look froet away froies on behalf of her Grace and hurried to my room to lockof our journey ahead in theSoon ould be in Alvernia and I would have to brave the mountains for Haydyn’s cure But brave the her back I needed herback in Silvera If I did, I’d start to panic, and lose the little focus I had

Finally, after having tossed and turned the sheets into a tight tangle around own Winter had a library on the ground floor I would pick out a book and read for a while; hope that it would send me off to sleep

I was surprised to discover the sconces still alight out in the hallway, and as I walked it becaht even during slu h the lit hallways and tiptoed down the stairs, ainst theto savealready on this journey As I drew closer to Winter’s parlour the sound of low voices drewinthe wall until I drew up to the door Peering tentatively around the doorfraht before me I hated that I wanted to cry I hated that he made me feel that way

Wolfe was sprawled in an are, a brandy snifter dangling froazed down at hi i a hand on each arhts in the sa her lips to his cheek

To ht was all mine Stupid fool Stupid inexperienced child

But then he shockeda hand to Winter’s shoulder to push her away With a sigh, Wolfe rose to his feet, towering over the Vojvodkyna as even ht than I I couldn’t look away Even as he stared at her so intensely I watched as he brushed his fingers gently down her cheek Winter stared back at him wary and bewildered

"I told you no," Wolfe said in a low voice "I’ the little voice insidethe truth’, I waited for Winter’s response She didn’t see rebuffed

Indeed she turned froht "You can’t possibly love her," she whispered "She’s nothing special She’s not even beautiful"

My jaw dropped I may have questioned curiously who on Phaedra they were discussing but I knebut beautiful

"I think she is," Wolfe whispered back and I felt an itself elling My legs trembled, my toes curled into the aze at hi; her lip snarled in disappointment "I’m such a fool" She rolled her eyes heavenward "Even back then your eyes used to follow her everywhere I toldover her"

"I’ helpless I’d never seen hi you’re sorry So what? You’re going to give up e could have again for a girl who doesn’t even like you?"

That awful pang resonated again and again like a vibration inout to him It wasn’t that I didn’t like hian is confused" He rubbed his forehead in that fa to wait"

Winter shook her head, as if she thought hi in ht

Wolfe sighed and walked over to the table Slowly he placed his brandy snifter on it and then straightened, reaching for Winter in a coesture "I do I love her"

At his pronounceht be sick I felt the blood rush out ofmy stomach in fear, I quietly backed away fro to be a part of my body as they took me upstairs and back toon the edge ofwildly

Wolfe loved ht of the way I had hurt when he told ht of the horseshoe brand did towith hi in his company Of the way my stomach flipped when he turned his wicked smile on me, and the way nawing in ht he and Winter had resumed their affair

Oh, haven no I closedthroat I couldn’t love him back I just couldn’t

There were too many obstacles between us Too much history Too much hurt The blood of the man who had destroyed my family ran in his veins I wouldn’t I wouldn’t betray ht of Selene and her prediction Well, I’d prove her wrong

Fro a world of distance between Wolfe and I Soon he’d stop loving me He’d be fine He was a catch He could have any wo and Wolfe kept getting betweenthe Soht of her naive o it alone

Chapter Twenty

He knehat I was doing The frustration and anguish on Wolfe’s face when I gave him formal, clipped responses to his queries almost undone me But I chanted Haydyn over and over inAnd after the third hour, Wolfe finally glowered atLieutenant Chaeron’s curious gaze, I stared straight ahead, my eyes blank, features expressionless The quicker Wolfe disliked me the better this would be