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Das were just a crush

"What’s his na what-ifs if I don’t focus on the real reason Kyol is here

"Betor, son of Jallon"

Déjà vu hits rave; vu I can predict what happens next

"Is he worse than Thrain?" I hear anizes another attack" Kyol doesn’t meet my eyes There’s no inflection in his voice

"You don’t want ht I could convince you to e-scale battles You’ll be usedcovertly?" He looks up At my nod, he continues "When we learn the location of one of the rebels, my swordsmen will attempt to arrest him I’ll escort you, and if the rebel fissures out, you will h It’s better than being used to see through fae illusions in a full-on confrontation

"I can do that," I say

Kyol’s hands tighten on his knees "When Thrain found you, you had to help us But this false-blood doesn’t knoho you are This isn’t your war If you help us, it’s because you choose to andand, McKenzie, there can be nothing between us"

I close my eyes That’s not what I want to hear I want to hear that there’s a chance the king e his mind or make an exception

"I’m sorry," Kyol says as he rises

I force a set it I’down atcloser than we should We both know it, yet neither one of us takes a step back Kyol brushes side ht, my chin tilts up

Time slows

Our lips meet

It’s supposed to be a last kiss, and if ere both huht have been, but the h me The jerk of his body, his sudden inhalation, tellsapart, we move closer So much closer

One kiss turns into to into three, then there’s the brush of his tongue and I can’t concentrate enough to count He cups the back of ile--but if this is the last ti back