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It had been a revelation Salvation At first, the voices stopped all together, but the door cracked open after an hour or so as voices tried to push through a familiar hall The next tier Then a little longer The first day that she heard little to no voices at all, Ava had shown up at Orsala’s door, al with relief

Since then, the spell had become a mantra The voices never disappeared entirely around other people--Orsala said they weren’t h to shut the door so the whispers were only reat distance Her tension headaches disappeared Her agitation lessened Nohen Damien took her hand and squeezed it, she felt happy and content There wasn’t the desperate relief she’d once needed just to get through the day

And for that she was grateful Because though the weeks with Malachi had been a profound blessing, Ava knew she would probably never take another ht eventually find another partner It was more than acceptable for Irin and Irina who had lost asettling for anything less than what she and Malachi had once had, even if it had been brief It was more than love He was her soul mate She didn’t want another

And if she looked forward to sleep a little more than normal, well, that was understandable There was co reality tore her heart

"Are you sure this shirt is acceptable?" Daht out the color of his dark eyes Ava had suggested it instead of the dull black button-down he’d been about to put on They alking to the er on his first date

"Yes Stop fussing"

"I feel like I should have shaved"

Ava rolled her eyes "Will you stop? The beard looks good She likes it Trust me"

"How do you know?"

"Do you seriously not pick up on the ‘I want to lick you’ looks that woman sends your way every time you’re in the roo to not irritate her"

"You need to irritate her more, not less"

"That irl, and she’s filed you away under ‘things I’ll deal with later’ You need toher off Like you said, she hates you the sauys just have to sort out your shit"

He halted, forcing Ava to stop next to him when he held on to her arrief before she was ready And it caused ain I can be patient for her"

Her heart warmed at his words "I know you can But you shouldn’t waste tiet"

Damien frowned and squeezed her hand "I am sorry you didn’t have more tiht now" She couldn’t Not if she wanted to get through this party without crying

"I understand" He started back up the path and deliberately changed the subject "Are you curious what the sing will be?"

"I’ like that Whatever happens, happens"