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“They won’t” He shakes his head

“How do you know that?”

“Because they won’t!” he yells

“I don’t believe that!” I shout back “And your loyalty lies with them Not me”

“Blake” He sighs, running a hand through his hair “You don’t knohat you’re talking about”

“Test et this over with right now He can give me a test from the Lords, and when I pass, this’ll all be over

“I can’t,” he growls through gritted teeth “Not in that way”

“Are you serious?” I snap “Everything has been a fucking test since the ton, and all of a sudden, you can’t That doesn’tsense, Ryat!”

“Things have changed”

“What the hell has changed? Because it all looks to be the saame” The room falls silent aftermy elbows on my knees, I bury my face in my hands and take a deep breath “How am I supposed to prove my loyalty to you if you don’t trustin front of the floor-to-ceiling s Bending down, he picks up his cell and then shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans

“There is a—”

“No!” he interrupts his father, spinning around

“What is it?” I shoot to my feet

“It’s nothing,” Ryat snaps

“You’re lying And once again hiding so from me”

“I won’t risk your life!” he screa red

Taking in a deep breath, I walk over to him “You do it for the Lords Why should I accept it, but you not?”

“Because I chose this life, Blake,” he growls

“And then I chose you when I burned those divorce papers So I’m in the middle—”

“Not anymore,” he interrupts me “You will do your last initiation because I’ll be there to oes smoothly, then you’re done You’ll be a Lady and my wife That’s it”

That’s not the end Not even close He’s in it for life, and it scares me to know that they have this much control over it “But the Lords will still call you to do work for them”

“That’s what I signed up for,” he agrees