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David picked ht have passed out for a while; when I woke, I was naked, and the two of us were in the bathtub, stretched out and facing each other He was gently sluicing hot water over my chest, and when he saake, he switched to a washcloth, which he used to sponge blood fro in a distant sort of way I was too weak to really feel panic

He pressed his lips to my forehead

"I’m sorry," he whispered "I’ain"

"Not even for - "

"No Not even for the Mother"

It had the feeling not of seduction, but of ritual, and the heat of the water eased so cold and small and terrified inside ofme, and then he carried me to bed, where I fell into a black, dreamless pit

Sleep wasn’t without its horrors I woke a few ti for my heart, but it wasn’t an attack, just raw unfiltered panic David was there to drive it away Hush, he told ers I won’t leave you You are safe in , he answered, and I drifted back to a dark, quiet sleep for the rest of the night

In the ht - though that really wasn’t much of an improvement, since I’d started from a baseline of near death I found out fros, that the phone call had been from Lewis The aetheric dust-up had been witnessed by hundreds of Wardens, though nobody could tell what had been going on or who had been the target Lewis had decided to check in, just in case A tea out the effects of the fight, which was good, because it ell beyondup for more than an hour was beyond me

David poured me a cup of coffee and slid into the chair beside me "How do you feel?" he asked

"Like I survived Barely," I said "You want the truth? I feel fragile And glad to be alive" I sipped without really tasting the nutty brown richness, though the smell of the coffee warmed me "Why did Ashan make you watch?"

His hands went still on the table He didn’t look up "Punishment," he said "I didn’t have permission to leave the Mother She wasn’t pleased She - she can cut me off from her, and she did it, to prove the point That’s why I didn’t have the power to stop him"

He’d disobeyed the Mother for me I alet it back to the saucer "David - "

"If you’re about to tell me that it was stupid, I already know," he said "But don’t ask ain"

"But - what did she want?"

"Djinn business" His tone made it clear that it wasn’t any of mine "You wouldn’t understand even if I tried to explain"

Because of me, David had already lost his status as the sole conduit for the Djinn; Ashan had taken on responsibility for the Old Djinn Now, if he wasn’t careful, he’d lose everything I felt that knowledge stab deep, and lodge like a dagger of ice somewhere near my heart "I don’t think I’m worth it," I said slowly

He raised his head, and the look in his eyes broke me "I think you are," he said "I think you’re worth far more You’ve proven it to me so many times"

I had to take a deep breath, or I’d have burst into tears As it was, my voice tree vows, it could bind the New Djinn the way that Jonathan’s vow bound the Djinn in the first place I could be responsible for enslaving you again All of you" I sed hard "I can’t take that chance"

"No?" He s, and it made me shiver "I can"

"David - "

"I warned you When Djinn fall in love, there’s no round Our love is deep, and total, andentler than the look in his eyes "You think I did this without considering the consequences? Without considering the cost to my own people, and my responsibilities?"

"I - " I finally shook my head "I don’t know I don’t kno it is for Djinn, but where love is involved, huic"

That h for us as well However, I believe that the New Djinn need to stay close to humanity, and I believe this is an iical It also happens to be what I want to do It’s a risk, yes, but it’s a risk I think is acceptable In addition, it’s a way to force the Sentinels out in the open, by forcing theers to his ht brush of lips "If you decide we can’t go through with it, I’ll abide by your decision"

"Butwhat about the others?"

"The other New Djinn? I won’t say there aren’t a feho are doubtful, but by and large, they’re interested Intrigued It’s possible that if we exchange vows, the Djinn could regain soreement with the Wardens - but still retain their autonomy As I said, we all consider it worth a try"

"Especially since it’s teht? Till death do us part Once I’litter of his eyes "Yes," he said "Exactly Unlike the agreeroup, this is to an individual But the Old Djinn still don’t want to take the risk They’re the more conservative force, and they worry about consequences About precedence"

He was describing a lot more to me about Djinn politics than he ever had before, and I had to adht my own battles, didn’t she? That hy she summoned you both in, you and Ashan To lay down the law"

"Yes"

"Which you pro to my side"

"Ashan broke it first," David pointed out "He came to kill you, and I have no doubt he’d have done it He didn’t see you as worthy, not in any way, of what I’ed "Ashan’s not known for being overly fond ofto be impressed by any human, it would probably be you"

"Why? Because I didn’t whis around onseeency

"Because he sahat I saw He saw your strength, your power, your beauty" David paused, studying ave me shivers "He sahat I saw in your core, and it shook hiift to erous than anyone they’ve ever known"