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See, Noctorno took me outside into the overcast day He also took ave me privacy while I attended to nature’s call while I was in nature – notin this world or my own, in fact, I never did it in ain But it was the call of nature and nature was my only choice so I answered the call

Then he took me back to the cave, liftedat ie ot on Sale ride to the river

My bath wasn’t all I’d hoped it would be seeing as he took off his boots and waded in with h the river was gorgeous (regardless of the gray day) and crystal clear, it was danged cold

Sopping e rode back, he stoked the fire while I sat by it, huggingthen he informed me he’d be back and he took off

That hen I decided on hit as I alternately got up and fed fuel to the fire and decided what to do to get out ofto tell the truth

He’d likely think I was

I heard hooves on stone and kneas back

I bit my lip and felt a thrill race upelse and I didn’t think about it

I had to concentrate on what I would say to get him to believe reat even though his shirt rinkled and his hair was mussed Or,two jugs hooked to just one finger with the rest of his fingers wrapped around a rough sack and another rough sack in his other hand He dropped the sacks and put the jugs on the table

Then he turned to me

“I’ve returned,” he announced the obvious, a seous lips

“Goodie,” I h

“Fresh s “And ale,” he went on

Yuck I hated h, I wished I kne to use that kettle contraption I’d checked it out and it was beyond ured it out, there was no water And I needed caffeine, stat

“Right,” I htly kicked one of the sacks with the toe of his boot “Porridge oats, bread, butter, sugar and salt beef,” he went on

Noere talking

“Fabulous,” I htly toed the other sack “Clothes for you And shoes”

Oh dear

I bit ain

Oh shit

“Now, love,” he started walking towardabout how creative you can be”

Oh shit!

I started backing up

“We need to talk,” I informed hi “Well, that’s creative but not what I was thinking”

Oh shit!

My back hit stone so I lifted a hand, palainst ht between our bodies

Yes, that was how close he was

Yikes!

“Uh –”

“I warn you not to delay, Cora, I’ in front of you,” he advised

I stared up at hiht blue eyes They were very blue and very clear Like the sky on a sunny, cloudless day