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"That's nice" Exhausted, Claire sighed "Please don't stop"

Corday thu tear from her cheek "I won't, Claire"

In the voice of a broken thing, Claire began to feel ust… for herself "I hate that na secrets, Claire woke Though her body ached, she arrateful for the boyish smile Corday offered once she'd pried her sticky lashes apart

Cautious and gentle, he sled hair "You look much better"

They were so close she could see the night's stubble on his cheek, smell his breath

He seemed so real

Sucking her split lower lip into herthe scab left when that wo to spread, ain It was as if Svana were in the room with her, as if the Alpha's hands remained wrapped around her throat

Claire struggled to breathe

Corday broke through her growing terror "You're okay, Claire I'll keep you safe"

It wasn't a drearew to understand that the more Corday spoke, the more he touched her, the more she felt the sun on her face

How had she even come to be there?

She was separated froreat deal of physical discomfort, naked, and Corday had taken her in, despite the fact that she had drugged him—lied to him

She had to remind herself out loud; she had to make herself remember "I jumped off the back terrace of the Citadel… crashed into snow"

"And you ran here," Corday finished for her

She had, before air had even returned to her lungs she'd scaht to your door" Voice breaking, tre fierce, Claire sobbed, "I'm sorry, Corday"