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He held Sol by the ar on Laake’s lap “Yes Why?”
“Would you… take me on a tour? I’d love to see it all” She made her voice soft and innocent
“Of course” He stood up immediately
She’d known he’d be easy, but she hadn’t known it would be that sily, but she shoved it back down She was doing this for her young She jumped up and slipped on a pair of soft animal-skin boots “I’m ready if you are”
He extended an ar at how natural and easy the gesture came to both of them, when it was one she’d never shared once with her fornificent pod, taking time to explain details to her How they used Zandian crystal to aht so they could survive away from their planet Why they chose to plaster the walls in the colors of Zandia How Prince Zander’s rifar fresh Earth food to the pod He told her that one day per hich was every ten planet rotations on Ocretia—the Zandians gathered in the Great Hall for the only meal they required
He showed her the roouards slept He took her to the dock where they had many new airships
“And the dungeons? Where are they?”
Laake’s face softened with sy of your for, I assure you”
“Would—could I just see?”
His expression clouded “Why, beautiful?” His brows knitted “Do you still care about them?”
She sed If she agreed, would he let her see them? Laake was all earnest kindness He didn’t seem to have a jealous or mean streak anywhere in his personality “Yes” The lie burned on her tongue, especially when she saw the pain it caused her dear Laake But she pushed forward “Would you let me see them? Just for a few moments?”
Laake rubbed his forehead “You’ll see them later this planet rotation when Zander questions them”
She stepped closer, shifting the baby to her hip and resting her fingertips on his chest where his ed handles “Please, Laake?” She lifted on her tiptoes, brushing her lips across the hollow of his throat
His mouth dipped but he covered one of her hands with his “If you must”
There were four beings total in the dungeon, all Zandian, all reed to let her go in alone, staying to talk with the guard on duty Eslyn clutched Sol to her chest and passed the first prisoner, a stranger, and then Sankro’s greedy face came into view