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CHAPTER 46

TERREILLE

Days ticked by Theran spent the tih the town Dena Nehele’s capital had too many empty houses, too many empty shops The people who re and dull

He rode into the landen part of town and stared at the craftsainst a Warlord and his two sons

People’s eyes hadn’t been accepting and dull then

To avoid Kermilla and the questions he couldn’t answer, he walked around the Grayhaven estate, slogging on slushy paths and riding trails until his trousers were soaked and his legs ached Or he’d stare at the flower beds Gray had restored, at the spring flowers that had already bloo to Julien And more often, he would end up in front of the bed full of witchblood, re the day they all discovered what it was—and what it meant

The days ticked by, and soon there would be no days left He had to make a choice before the other Warlord Princes made it for him

A gorgeous spring day Sweet air and sun that gave warht

Theran stood on the terrace, enjoying this teasing hint of the days to co off winter altogether, but this was a day to savor

And there, tucked in the shelter of the terrace’s raised beds, was the little honey pear tree, which had survived the winter

He heard the terrace door open and kneithout turning as there Her psychic scent was irresistible even on a day like today when her physical presence had less than no appeal

“Theran?”

Dredging up a smile, he turned toward the door Kermilla rapped in a shawl and a sulky mood

The shaasn’t one he’d seen before, and he wondered if that was because it was so to receive an apology and a bill from one of the merchants

“Why are you wasting ti the Warlord Princes here so that I can choose my court?”

“It’s co to work out a way for everyone to get soive her what she really wanted

“It’s not complicated, Theran Justtell them” She walked over to the table where he’d set a few papers down Giving him a defiant look, she e as was visible around the fist-sized rock serving as a paperweight

“I can’ttell the”

Since it wasn’t interesting, she gave up on trying to read the top page “You’re the darkest-Jeweled Warlord Prince in this miserable excuse of a Territory Of course you can tell them”

He bristled, insulted on behalf of his people and his land

Then he tightened the leash and forced himself to keep his temper out of this conversation