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"No change She’s to continue being your apprentice"

"Will she followas you clear the and again right after supper to discuss your assignathered the two parts of his shirt together, fisting the fabric in his right hand and pressing it against the bleeding wound on his chest Pain flared, but his swirling thoughts distracted him Possible explanations for the Commander’s behavior bubbled Had Onora’s attack affected him that badly? Or en to blaic No need to hide behind an illusion when you were an invited guest Valek would have to investigate howanother direct order and further ruining their relationship

Confusion warred with anger, which flipped to fear and then to outrage Valek no longer knehat to think, to believe, to do He’d always knohat action to take, but not now Toostayed consistent Yelena He needed to protect her, to send her to safety, to ensure that she understood that his loyalties were no longer divided

Valek arrived at his suite without any memory of the trip Yelena sat at the table She’d cleared a section off so she could eat her breakfast Her forkful of sweet cakes paused in midair when she spotted him

She dropped it The ? What happened?"

He strode over and knelt next to her "The Co his fist, he let his shirt hang open

Yelena gasped and reached to touch hi her "Please, just listen I’ve no idea what’s going on with him, but I do know that you’re the one ns estured to the C-shaped cut "--is not going to be a sy his knife, Valek cut a backward C shape into his skin right next to the other, linking them so they resembled a heart "It’s a symbol of my love, my loyalty, my respect, my trust and my commitment to you and only you Yelena, will you marry me?"

9

LEIF

The air thickened with heat and sh the fla a way to escape the barn as the fire’s roar pounded in his ears and his heart thudded in his chest

"your fire ic?" Devlen’s face shone with sweat

"I can only start fires, not stop thehed into his sleeve

"Any ideas?"

"Window" Leif bent low and raced to the nearest one

The wooden fralass behind the fla his face with his arh the sole of his boot He kicked again This tilass broke, and he used his heel to clear the shards

"Pants," Devlen yelled