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“Oh!” I cried and her head shot up, she spied me and her mouth forrace,” she said through her s We’ll use the backstairs,” I told her, lifted htening and lifting up a hand to forestall me “It’s just fine, I’ll scrub up after you No problem at all Use these”

See There it was The smile was totally fake Like always She was scared she’d do so to upset me, which would make me complain to Tor, which wouldto do anything to stop that Including lettingstairs on your hands and knees with a scrub brush had to suck She didn’t even have a pad for her knees!

“No, that’s all right,” I assured her, continuing toto turn “It’s perfectly fine Enjoy the celebrations this afternoon,” I finished then I fully turned and jogged up the stairs, hurried down the hall and took the backstairs

I h the halls to the mammoth entry in order not to run into anyone else and then I went out the enormous double front doors that had to be at least two stories tall and were open to the sunshiny day

“It’s a beautiful day,” I told Aggie, h

“Chirp, chirp, chirp,” Aggie replied which meant, “That it is, Cora”

Iup to the castle, , beautiful, circular, gushing fountain in the middle of the courtyard in front of the castle and as I hit the botto around own forward, ht breeze to surround led as they flew (this wasn’t the first time this happened, the first time I freaked way the hell out, noas a dab hand) and they chirped, , birds!” I called after thehtness faded into the sun

Then I looked across the courtyard, not noticing (because I’d learned to keep myself to azing at ent smiles and I spied Saleht, snatched Aggie off uratively) and skipped excitedly across the space while holding Aggie carefully in ot close, I threw ie out of my hand so he could hop up on Salerinned at hihed out loud because it tickled

“Look at you, you beautiful beast I’ve missed you I haven’t seen you for a whole week!” I cried

Saleernon?” A deep, handsome voice came from Salem’s other side and I ducked under the beast’s neck to see Tor standing there, ars planted wide, eyes on ernon, at his side “My wife flies across the courtyard to hug my horse and she doesn’t even look at hter, I grinned at Tor,him as I went then, when I cleared him, I flew the four feet to Tor and threw myself in his arent s, happy looks that were exchanged as Tor whirled , then he setinto my arms with my hands flat on his chest and ht blue eyes

“How are you this , ave ht squeeze “Very well, my wife How are you?”

I leaned closer and whispered, “Very well”

His eyes warmed then scanned my face

Then one of his hands slid from my back, around my waist, to come to rest, weirdly, palm flat, on my belly