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Owen knelt next to him and the pressure on his chest eased a fraction "You’re not going to obey the Commander’s orders despite all your yes, sirs and no, sirs And I can’t have that So you’re going to have an accident Poor Valek fell while scaling the castle walls near the guest quarters The next tih the air Enjoy the ride"

The null shield cos A vision of Yelena flashed With the last of his strength, he spit the dart at Owen The asped and tried to move, but he re the pressure

Regret pulsed as Valek fought for consciousness Sorry, love

Boots clacked on the stone floor as Maren strode down the hallway Owen, Rika and Tyen froze Once again, Owen’s hold on Valek slipped just enough to allow air to revive hih for hi about lazy servants as she used one of the lit lanterns to light another one closer to Valek’s office

"Rika," Ohispered

The woman closed her eyes "Done"

Valek assuic to create an illusion to hide theic, he didn’t feel its sticky touch

Maren knocked on the door, waited and knocked again Sighing, she leaned against the wall Valek’s three captors glanced at each other Then Owen stared at Maren

She yawned Her eyelids drifted shut With a grunt, she shook her head and straightened But it didn’t take long for her to slide down the wall into a sitting position Relieved that they didn’t plan to kill her as well, Valek watched as she rested her forehead on her bent knees

"Okay, I’m here," Janco called froh I don’t knohy you needAre you sleeping?"

"Mhed a hundred pounds

"What-- Ow" Janco pressed his hand to his right ear

Don’t look Don’t look, Valek chanted in hisfor Janco’s and Maren’s lives

But Janco turned and peered into the darkness He fingered the hilt of his shile rubbing his scar with his other hand

No Don’t Look away

Janco turned his attention to Maren "Guess the servants decided to take off early tonight" He pulled Maren to her feet "Come on Valek probably went to bed"