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She’d raked her gaze over hi about, an assassin likelook "Where have you been all eous?"

In the past, he would’ve deemed this female heavens-sent for him--before Josephine had clai dreams

When Natalya had propositioned him--"A little secret between two banebloods"--he’d si"

At that, Natalya had stopped eye-fucking him, and they’d spoken about the few others of their kind they’dof them all Not the firstborn, but still the oldest

Was that why Orion had sought hiht Rune less because he was a halfling; perhaps Orion considered dark fey to be a species unto themselves

With Rune as their pried to talk up Thad, e Once fully transitioned, Rune had assured Natalya, Thad could withstand any poison

Rune was glad to have gotten thatout of the way With an unknown out there, he never would’ve been able to convince Josephine he was hers alone

Soon his mate would feel confident in him Soon she would wake to find him here, and he wasnervous

She hadn’t spoken about him, and he still couldn’t fathoue ret for the past? How could he tell her his hopes for the future when he didn’t knohat that future would entail? My liege ht have murdered your mother, your entire world Rune had co Orion and Apparitia

She turned on her back, her hair tu over her pillow

Her scent soothed his uneasiness, until it was replaced with a weary relaxation He hadn’t slept in eight or nine days

Outside, the night darkened even ive his bow hand to be able to sleep next to her once again

He watched the rise and fall of her chest and ilen as a breeze washed over thee of the bed

Even a Møriør needed to rest once in a while Maybe he’d close his eyes for ten minutes

SEVENTY-TWO

Rune was in Perdishian He thought Perhaps he dreamed?

If so, this reverie was the lass wall, gazing out He breathed in air that smelled like cold stone and roans as it h space and time

Orion joined his side His eyes were obsidian, as obscure as usual, but Rune had never seen this visage before The male stood only a few inches taller than Rune His hair was as black as space His face was pleasing with sharp cheekbones and even features

Rune couldn’t determine which species Orion imitated today

They watched worlds pass in silence Finally, Rune said, "I need to speak with you"

Without turning from the view, Orion intoned, "Speak"