Page 102 (1/2)

He h whether you’ll be ry I swived a nymph--or that I let your brother suffer You’re about to learn a lesson I grasped very early: oneyou want badly"

Maybe that was true Maybe she wasn’t being rational But it was difficult to stay rational--when she felt like she was being throat punched She murmured back, "How is this different fro You’re going to be a whore again, only this tiround his teeth so hard thatwhen I said you weren’t that man anymore," she continued "But then, I arated, "If itof you"

He straightened, then started toward Meliai They strolled off together, leaving Jo behind

Knife in gut Knife in gut Knife in gut

That’s when a realization hit her like a Valkyrie’s fist: I’m completely in love with that prick

Tears ran freely down her face Of all the tinize this

She knew she was in love--because nothing else could hurt thisever had, except for when she’d left Thad behind

Rune glanced back at her one last tiet another lover, but she couldn’t get another Rune

SIXTY

Dalli stopped Rune and Meliai in the corridor "What in the gods’ na?"

He flicked his hand at Meliai "Her, apparently"

Dalli told the other nymph, "Wait in your room I need to speak to hierie?"

"Whatever’s quickest"

"Eager I like it" Meliai traipsed away

When they were alone, Dalli said, "Have I heard correctly--you brought Josephine here?"

He nodded "She’s truly my mate, Dalli"