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Colvin looked at her in confusion "Yes Through the Medium, that can happen That is what I wanted to show you in ? You look ill"

"Nothing," she lied, staring at the ground The truth stung her as if she grasped for a rose steht you would be…we thought you would be pleased If you were Family, you could study at an Abbey You could finally becoht that is what you wanted" He stood in front of her, perplexed by her reaction apparently "You were not expecting this"

Lia shook her head, unable to e of huain, and she squeezed the trunk so hard her fingers ached She could not stop the tears and turned her face away

"Do you…do you understand what I aer starting to surge in his voice "Lia? Were you expecting so to…to what? Tell !"

She bit her lip, too ashaazed up at him, her eyes blurred with tears and saw the wild look of distress in his face He was confused, angry, concerned

He stared at her, his hands slowly clenching "This is not what you were thinking I would offer You thought…I wanted to ing her into darkness He said it out loud There was no going back There was no way to pretend their conversation had not happened No way to disguise how she felt about hiht, Lia?" he asked in a flat voice

She looked at hi him to leave with her

Weakly, she nodded It was the only adue would obey her She had desperately wanted to believe it Marciana’s words haunted her: we are slow to believe that which if believed would hurt our feelings

It unleashed a new kind of storm As thunder boomed over Muirwood, Colvin stood back froer A sharp histled through the grove as he stared at her, understanding for the first time "I cannot believe this What do you think would happen if I were to pledge myself to a wretched? I am from a noble Family My mother was froation and covenant that has lasted for hundreds of years that binds my family to the Medium forever I have a duty toin the Mediuive you that" He shook his head, as if someone had slapped him "I am the Earl of Forshee Do you have any idea ould happen if I were to choose soetting the oaths my forbearers have sworn and that I swore myself Do you have any idea theto e, his lips quivering as he spoke

Lia could hardly breathe Each word, each glier thrust in her heart "I aht…I hoped…"

"I would lose my earldoms," he went on "I would lose all e or freehold Is that what you want? A e of equals, Lia You are my superior with the Medium I know that and accept it But you are not my equal in rank You are a wretched – so you just cannot have!"

Lia choked on her tears "You think that of me?" she said, blinded by her shae of anger that followed "That I was trying to snare you? To snare you?"

Colvin’s face twisted with anger "I have never tried to pretend anything with you"

"Nor have I!"

"Then how could you think that I would ever marry you? You know me, Lia! You know me more fully than anyone else It is my duty to protect Demont’s niece, it is not what I desire to do It is reater than a wish It is the oads me" His voice fell, but his face showed all the fiery e inside of hio We cannot be seen like this"

"Please!" Lia said, grasping his arrip off "Please, Colvin I am sorry I misunderstood"