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"Stop skulking about in the woods and come tell me what Cahil said," Yelena called

He strode into the firelight "How did you know?"

"Kiki She raised her head as if she heard so "I take it you were successful"

Valek filled her in "We only have a couple hours to get ready I’ll do your disguise first, and then you can nap while I work onup a pair of scissors, Valek tested the edge of the blades for sharpness

Yelena made a small huh sound and crinkled her nose

"Sorry, love--the woroup all have shorter hair But with so, I canto cut off as rabbed his hand, pulled up the bottom of her tunic and pressed his palm to her stomach

"What--"

"Just wait"

The warmth from her body soaked into his skin He wished they had time for a proper reacquaintance Perhaps just a nibble on her earlobe Valek leaned closer, but without warning, a sensation brushed along his fingers He drew back and ht touch repeated, and understanding hit his constricted as if he’d been sucker-punched

"The baby?" he asked the obvious in a whisper All he could ," she teased "Of course it’s the baby"

He knew that, so why did the ground soften beneath his feet and the world tilt and spin around hiible Not just a concept or a belief Real Exciteh hiered to his knees under the weight

Confused, Yelena held his hand "What’s wrong?"

"You can’t go," he said

She stilled "What do you erous Let me and Onora--"

Yelena knelt next to hiued for it Rerasped both his hands in hers "You need me If any of Fisk’s members escaped, they won’t talk to you or Onora Zitora also won’t trust either of you And the library in the Keep ician Ellis Moon’s notes"

Her words were all logical Once inside the Citadel, the risk of capture di his insides with its sharp claws refused to let go

In a softer tone, she said, "There will be no family for us if Bruns wins"

Another valid point

"And fate ht smile on us, and we’ll find a weakness that we can exploit, or better yet, that you can use to assassinate Bruns"