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In as even a tone as I could lad you defeated the to wake up, he said, "I have been worried that you wouldn’t be able to accept what I a weird? I’et to hear how you defeated the"

He eyedin a softer tone, "What a treasure" Then he straightened, s, of the future Tonight I’ve planned a banquet in your honor You’ll adiers And your cousin Filip as well"

"I ran into hi ladies find the him"

Maybe if I hadn’t already had eyes for Sevastyan

"Filip’s the son of my distant cousin and best friend, who died recently The poor boy took it hard Your being here is just what the lad needs"

After that, the afternoon passed cos we had in common: dislike of slapstick comedy, love of anih," he co to a crime boss

He told arden, loved plants; she would’ve been pleased to know I’d grown up on a far and promised to teach me about clocks

When they all struck five, Kovalev said, "As o, so you can have soet settled in before the banquet"

"Oh" Banquet, schreedy fortone, he said, "I regret scheduling it, e could have a quieter dinner and carry on this conversation" He was as reluctant for me to leave as I was "Aleksei could join us"

A knock sounded Speak of the devil

Chapter 13

"Perfect ti, Son," Kovalev told hiht you would want to"

"No, no, you two go on I’ll see you tonight, dear" He pressed a kiss to the top of my head, and it felt natural

As Sevastyan and I left the study, I couldn’t stop sht--I hadn’t knohat I was talking about; Kovalev onderful

On our way up the grand staircase, Sevastyan finally spoke "You enjoyed yourself"

"Just like you said, Paxán is great" My prejudging of Kovalev had been off theabout Sevastyan Maybe it was tiraphically limited