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To keepa capital offense, I volunteer, "I’ll watch her, Your Highness I’ht, and Prince Nicholas wanted to make sure I looked after Ellie"

His eyes dart to me then back to Ellie

"I don’t know"

Ellie raises her head, her crying jag finished for now, then stu against it, s it

"You can leave an, Henry He’s my hero"

Henry cocks his head suspiciously "Is that so?"

"Totally" Ellie sighs, petting el"

Jesus Christ

The blond prince holdsmy worth--the way men do I don’t look away; I don’t blink After a moment, Henry nods, smacks his palms on the arm of the sofa and hoists himself up

"Well, that’s good enough for me"

Ellie claps her hands

"Yay!"

And aluide her into an antique chair

Henryup her hand and kissing the back

She giggles "Thank you for tonight"

He drops down to his knee "Did you have fun--the best time of your whole life? I have a reputation to uphold, you know"

Ellie nods, all giddy and loose-li to be an awesoe look falls over Henry’s face Sad, wistful "You’re a good-hearted girl, Ellie You should leave this place as soon as you can"

The next time he blinks, that jester’s smile is back in place Henry holds out his fist "Welcome to the family, sweets"

Ellie tries to fist-buht in the nose

Laughing, Henry holds Ellie’s wrist and taps their fists together

Then he stands, nods in my direction, loops his aran?"

"Yes?"

"When’s your birthday?"

"June seventh"

"Oh"

"Hey Logan?"

"M "Twenty-three"

"Huh"

It’s been going this way for half an hour Ellie sits on the paisley antique sofa, staring into the empty fireplace, with o but she’s ht anyway

"Hey Logan?"

"Aye?"

"What’s your favorite color?"

"I don’t have one"

"Everyone has one"

"Blue"

"Light or dark blue?"

Again, I ansithout thought "Light blue"