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"I do not wish to be disturbed for the rest of the night," he said "But toht, cousin," Detrius said "Once again, I cannot express enough what a relief it is that you have returned" He gave Bastien another s on his heel and heading down the corridor

With the two of us now alone, Bastien pushed open the door and pulled me inside He closed it behind us and bolted it The caliving way to disturbance

"Bastien," I whispered, gripping his wrists, "What on earth--"

He pressed a palm over my mouth and widened his eyes at ainst the door, listening for what, I didn’t even know Then, after an intense ten seconds, he pried himself away and made his way deeper into the cha no idea what else I was supposed to be doing with al, yet sis sprawled across the stone floors and richly patterned, burgundy tapestries lined the walls, but otherwise the furnishings were ratherlanterns illuminated the place, and it was cold Terribly cold I wrapped my arms around myself as I followed him down a corridor He stopped outside a door and mouthed, "Wait here" He opened the door and stepped into a bedrooed barely a minute later, fully dressed in fresh clothes He wore a plain off-white shirt and dark pants, si when I’d first come across him

He continued down the corridor and entered a s swords, daggers, spears, as well as bows and arrows Bastien retrieved a belt and a thick satchel that hung froers and arrows into the bag before fastening a bow to the belt

I could not hold inthrough the weapons, Iat hi him to look me in the eye

"What is happening?" Iso to us Of course I knew that wolves had exceptional hearing, whichso cautious He approached a wooden closet in one corner and opened it It was filled with dusty black cloaks, tall and wide enough for four people to stand corabbedthe door, closing us both in I could hear our hearts pounding He leaned closer before lowering his ht ear until he was so near, his lips touched my skin Then he whispered, so softly I could hardly hear him even at this proxih cheek brushed against le down my spine

"Why did you lie?" I breathed "Why did you calleet back to my family?

His eyes darkened "The less truth they know, the better… I believe this lair has been compromised"

"What do you mean, compromised?" I asked

"I do not even understand the extent of itit But… it was a ed to sweep so quickly through our cha pained to say it "I believe my cousin and uncle turned us in"

"What? You think they’re in alliance with the hunters?"

Bastien nodded, grim "Their desire to rule has never been a secret"