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Then his eyes went dark once ht’s return,” he said in a derisive tone “I aht, Empress”
He looked so whipped that I actually felt sorry for hi toward someone who had me in the crosshairs?
This was probably not the best time to tell him about the book, but I could still shoot for proxi” Nothing I fiddled with my blouse “Won’t you talk to me?”
“Leave me, creature I’m in no mood”
“It doesn’t have to be this way between us”
“So says the girl ants me dead”
I exhaled with disappoint me, and I knew you’d force the issue until only one of us survived”
He gave a harsh laugh as he reed?”
“I believe it could Wouldn’t you rather have otten what it’s like to have friends Maybe you never knew”
His expression said I’d hit the nail on the head
Hoful “But you could have them now,” I said quietly
“I hold your life in my hands—and you dare to pity me? Your eyes are filled with it You think I want friends? Perhaps some like yours?” he scoffed “Then I wouldn’t need eneotten when I spied a new icon on his right hand, a siavesneer “The Star was very bold”
So that’s what the buzz was about The Star, the Arcane Navigator, was nosick, I turned away What if Death truly craved killing? Like Ogen, who hungered for offerings?
In past games, Arcana had said Death preferred to kill with his touch Perhaps, like Finn, he was cos as I have!” He released renade
“I took mine in self-defense”
“And you assume I didn’t? The Star neared ht me” Death ran his palm over his jaw “I will protect my home and anyone in it Even you”
In a faint voice, I said, “How did you do it?”
“Without thened the Star,for ideal conditions for him to use his powers”
“Like what?” I couldn’t rehtened senses, the ability to create a light blast froht, he detonated hi my senses, my body” Was that the quake we’d felt? The one that had ht to attack”
“But you got the upper hand? How’d you end hi down at love to htly skih his teauntleted fist
When I realized thisto stoke my hatred for him, I yanked my head back “Is that how you’ll do it to me? Before you take my head, of course Is that what you’ll do to Lark?”
He said only, “Our play toils on It’s kill or be killed”
This game will make murderers of us all No, I refused to accept that “It doesn’t have to be that way! What if I vowed on my mother’s soul never to hurt you?”
“How easily those beautiful lips spill lies E “I’d never break that one”
He exhaled, see too much of himself “It is late, and I’m weary I take my leave” He turned toward his rooms
Another wasted day in the Castle of Lost Time? I needed proximity! I squared ured out why you avoid et to know me better, it’ll be harder to kill loves on his desk “I’ve warned you And still you test e, he said, “But you’d risk anything, would do anything to get back to yourto get closer to the man you hate above all others”
“Just wait—”
“Deny that you want to be with hiht I would do anything to return to Jack
When I didn’t answer, Death looked like so “How can you possibly want him? The od a humans, but he’s too blind to see that!”
“I look at this as a curse, as a problem If I weren’t the Empress, then you and I wouldn’t have to be enemies I’d never have to worry about your sword at my throat”
“Do you believe yourself in love with Deveaux?” He snarled the words
As far as my mission to seduce went, it probably wasn’t the best idea to be honest about that
Between gritted teeth, he said, “It’s emblazoned on your pretty face But you wouldn’t love his would wither and die”
“What are you talking about?”
He headed for his vodka bottle, pouring a shot for hilass, running the back of his marked hand over his lips, then refilled
I crossed my arms over my chest “Uh-huh I’ll just take your word for it?”
“No, I received my information from the Fool He was quite worried about his E”
This was co to keep e, to rattle me as I had him “You know I’ll fact-check”
“I expect you to”
I sed “And ould you two be discussing ht!” I snapped ers “You wanted to keep me alive, so I could be your wild card At least before you off me yourself Now it makes sense why you intervened with the Hierophant And with the other Arcana, warning them away”
“I’ve been up-front about my intentions with you, unlike Deveaux Did you never wonder about his instant infatuation with you?”
“Maybe he had a thing for cheerleaders” Jack had told me he’d wanted et thatover to kiss hiside us Jack
Death shook his head “No, he targeted you before he ever saw you”
“That doesn’t make sense”