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"What’s the probleet it up for a pus dee of her bed, head in his hands "Lot on an to pace, bare feet silent on the plush carpet of her nest

She pulled her robe back on "Will you please tell ?"

"It doesn’t matter" Maybe on some level he’d suspected he wouldn’t be in the moment Maybe he’d chosen Dalli because he needed a friend ht stole inside froray eyes "Will you not confide in me?"

He shook his head How could he possibly explain a creature like Josephine?

"I don’t ask where you go when you’re not here," Dalli said "I don’t ask what you’re doing with your life, or what plans you have for the future" She kneas a secrets iven her no other details

"Which is e’re still friends"

As if he hadn’t spoken, she continued, "I’ve never asked those questions, because I could see for myself you weren’t utterly"Why would I be?"

Dalli rose, heading to her wine service to pour the? It wears on a soul"

"Speaking froe, the oldest ny about you today And how you are now coet laid It’s why I’ot to be over a female"

"Why do you say that?"

She handed him a drink, then crossed to the settee with her own "Givea seat, she ah his hair "There is a girl She’s gotthe bottle over"

Good thinking He grabbed it and joined her, setting it on an amber side table He sank down beside Dalli "I’ve only known her for four days" Out of the millions he’d lived "In my lifespan, that’s a blink of an eye" In Dalli’s too

"Do you think this girl could be the one?"

Maybe? No No! "I will never have a mate I’ve expected no destined female for myself"