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He watched her walk out of the room and wondered when she’d learned to dothat with her hips

“Why don’t I do that?” Since he needed a minute before he left the rooood” He studied the cookies—and smiled

They tasted best arm? Well, he’d have to see hoar a bakery tin full of these cookies—and wearing nothing but black leather pants that fit like a second skin

TERREILLE

Winsol For the Blood it was the most important day of the year

For Theran, it was a bittersweet evening

He sat in a chair near the fire Julien had lit in the parlor, his socked feet resting on a stool Watching the flames, he idly swirled brandy in a snifter

He’d enjoyed these past few days more than he’d expected The first tiement without Kermilla, there had been an aard silence, but word must have spread after that because none of his other hosts mentioned her absence And because her absence meant he was free to travel to other towns, he’d spent some tiue camps

The days leading up to Winsol had been full He still missed Kermilla with an ache that ed to himself that she wouldn’t have enjoyed the parties half as rander

If she’d asked him to spend Winsol with her in Dharo, he wouldn’t have hesitated Would his clothes and manners have been that much of an embarrassment to her?

Probably

She certainly would have been offended by the thought of sitting doith the servants for the Winsol feast Since he couldn’t see the cooka separate meal just for him, he’d asked Julien, Hanna, and the others to join hi room and to set the table hatever bits of fancy the butler and housekeeper could find Despite the surroundings and a ht had felt ue casters, and laughter A great deal of laughter and the hopeful relief that the bad times were behind them

He enjoyed the meal and the chance to know them as people instead of just servants

But he still missed Kermilla And Gray Hell’s fire, he missed Gray Not Gray as he’d been for the past ten years, but the youth he had been before he was captured and tortured As he sipped his brandy and stared at the fire, Theran kept re that last Winsol when Gray hole and happy—when one of theuilt

A tap on the parlor door before Julien stepped in “Prince Talon is here and asked if you’re available to see him”

“Of course!” Theran set the brandy aside and pushed out of the chair “Send him in”

“We don’t have any of that special wine,” Julien said “Is there so else we can offer as refreshment?”

Would Julien actually open a vein and mix his own blood with red wine to make yarbarah?

Studying his butler’s face, Theran realized that was a distinct possibility “Letif he was reading so in Julien’s voice that wasn’t really there “I appreciate the offer”

Julien nodded and stepped out of the room