Page 16 (1/2)

"I’m sorry" So sorry She wanted to stop this now, run away, but persisted anyway "Howhow did Vasili escape?"

"So , confused, but he et free while the Walkers were distracted, find Jasha, and haul him into the forest, where they hid for days before the re army found them That’s when it was decided--by all of us--that Walkers would be killed the ain, the tears running freely now She wanted to hold him, to chase away his pain

"He bonded with you, did he not?"

She nodded, unable to speak There was a lue to s

"Foolishwith his cock Some of our people did the sao, but those Walkers were put to death after that night The wives fought us Their Walkers were peaceful, they claimed But still we killed those bound to your world Hoould it look if they discovered Vasili, the king, had kept you alive?"

Bad

"If the people ever find out, they will rebel against hiotten as done to their loved ones And if his own people rebel while he battles other kingdoms"

Oh, God Oh, God, oh, God, oh, God She sed the lump "I’llI’ll leave" She would have to To save him Oh, God

"But you’ll return" An accusation

"Because I can’t stopat her cheeks with the back of her hand

"He knohat you are, but pretends you are one of us How long do you think that lie will last, since you’ll appear right in front of him every time you arrive?"

She closed her eyes, heartsick

"The bondto killhi to killive the one who does killyou"

Does kill, as if it were already a fact No wonder Vasili had taught her to fight He’d knoould happen if she were ever discovered He’d wanted her to have a chance But why had he wanted her to have a chance? He should have hated her Yet he’d bonded her, saved her

Would the hate return in tirow to resent her?

"When is your next birthday?" Grigori asked

"Inthree days"

"So you came early To see him" A statement, not a question

She answered anyway "Yes"

"You love hi hiame was over

"Do not tell him e discussed There is h she suspected heout who had done the deed She had to find a way to stop traveling here Not just her, but all the Walkers

She could travel at will, so it stood to reason that she could prevent herself froht? But the others couldn’t travel at will So they wouldn’t be able to stop themselves

Damn it!

That would save her--and save Vasili Except for the bondThey couldn’t be with other people But she couldn’t deny that she was glad he couldn’t be with other people Even if that ine wanting anyone else Not after experiencing that tongue, those fingershim, only him

She needed distance, time to deal To think Surely she could find a solution if she tried

"Tell Vasili I said--No" Any parting words would only deepen the connection between theer would coori nodded

"Thank you for theconversation" Translation: I hate you, but I can’t hold it against you because you did it for him

Another abrupt nod

She closed her eyes, pictured her house, and let her body do the rest Seconds, that was all it took, but she knew it had worked, because for a htless Dizzy Then perfectly fine Physically, at least

She opened her eyes, and four white walls surrounded her There was her couch, the fabric torn

There was her coffee table, the wood scratched