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"I’, so I let Madding helpscowled "He really tried to hurt you, Oree"

"I know" I stepped around Madding Beyond hi torn and bone crunching I , whose broad body blocked uessed he was Whatever one He eak noounded, lashing out in his pain like a beast--

No I had spent h the press of skin to skin I had felt the petulant anger in that shove Perhaps it was only to be expected: the quiet goddess had told hiht never know Shiny well, but I could tell he was too proud to take that as anything but an insult

He was panting again Shoving ained But I felt it when he lare atvery softly "I’ve always helped people who needed me, and I don’t intend to stop now You do needput round twice to hear the co clack of wood on stone

"Find your oay back," I told Shiny, and left him there

Madding did not delegate the task of caring for s had been aard between us since the breakup Yet he stayed, bathingcould have heated the water for ods were handy that way--but the cold was better for my back) When that was done, he bundled me into a soft, fluffy robe that he had conjured, tucked me into bed on h I gave him an amused look "I suppose this is just to keepcloser and resting a hand on the small of my back That part was unbruised "How’s your head?"

"Better I think the cold helped" It felt nice, having hiet used to it, but that was like telling a child not to want candy "There isn’t even a lump"

"Mmm" He brushed aside a few coils of hair and sat up to kiss the nape of hed "It’s hard to rest if you keep doing things like that"

Madding paused, then sighed, his breath tickling ered there for ato put a few inches between us I missed him immediately and turned my face away so that he would not see

"I’ll have so… Shiny… back, if he hasn’t , uncomfortable silence "That hat you askedhiation; he kept his promises

"Be careful of hiht He doesn’t think much of mortals, and you sahat his temper’s like I have no idea why you took his you do--but just be careful That’s all I ask"

"I’ of me, Mad"

I knew I’d pissed hireen "It doesn’t all go one way between us, Oree," he snapped His voice was softer in this forhed, started to turn over, and thought better of it when my bruises throbbed Instead I turned just , huuely male, but the look that boiled in his face holly that of an injured lover He thought I was being unfair He ht

"You say you still love me," I said "But you don’t want to be with ue warnings about Shiny rather than tellinguseful How do you expectmore about him" The liquid of his form abruptly became hard crystal, delicately faceted aquah it usually meant stubbornness on his part "You heard Sieh He must wander this world, nameless and unknown--"