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"So are you," he said softly

She was She hadn’t realized it, hadn’t noticed that she was shaking, but no that she knew…it seeht cry, but she had no idea why It was just there, inside of her TooToo much…

Just too ht," she said, rushing out the word The tears were there, too close, and she didn’t want hied to pull down herbefore he finished And then she ran to the bed, and buried her face in her pillow

But she didn’t cry Even though now she wanted to

And she still didn’t knohy

Harry held the blanket close as he trudged back out of his office He was no longer quite so cold, but he felt awful His chest had an unsettling, hollow feeling to it, and it see up his throat, drawing his shoulders up into a tense, unyielding shrug

It wasn’t cold, he realized It was fear

Prince Alexei had frightened Olivia today Harry wasn’t sure what exactly he’d done or said, and he knew that she would s if he pressed further about theain, if the prince was allowed free rein

Harrythe blanket with his left hand while he used his right to rub the back of his neck He needed to calht It would be up to the bath, and then into bed, where he could calan to rattle

His heart slammed in his chest, and his muscles leaped to readiness, every nerve suddenly poised for a fight It was late And he’d been out following mysterious Russians And…

And he was an idiot If so to break into his house, he’d not use the bloody front door Harry stalked over, turned the lock, and pulled it open

Edward fell in

Harry stared down at his younger brother with disgust "Oh, for God’s sake"

"Harry?" Edward looked up and squinted, and Harry wanted to knoho the hell else he was expecting

"How much have you had to drink?" Harry demanded

Edward tried to pull hiht in the center of the hall, blinking as if he weren’t quite sure how he’d got into the position "What?"

If anything, Harry’s voice grew quieter And more deadly "How much have you had to drink?"

"Uhhhh…well…" Edward’shis cud He probably was, Harry thought with disgust