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For a long tiht Shim would die, too It was unspoken between theth after that fateful night and the long period of a fugue-like sleep that followed

Maon, the king’s seneschal, walked up behind them He looked down his patrician nose, his voice just the tiniest bit shrill “Because you two are bloody dying and you know it This is a power play If you give in and take a bondhtful place” He softened a bit “No one wants to see you here You should be at his side Your cousin Julian can bring you a mate within days Say the word and it will be done”

A bit of Lach’s rage quelled Maon, for all his snobbishness, really was loyal It would have been easy for a truly ruthlesssince as far as everyone believed, Gillian was dead and he and Shi new manipulations to force them to take a mate and live There was o

nly one problem with the scenario

“We already have a ive

Maon stood, and his mouth flattened in a derisive frown “The princess in the tower Yes, I’ve heard the tale And you tonder why you’re relegated to the bottom of the table You’re lucky he allows you to be here at all Your nome to keep quiet” He tapped on the table “Yes, we all know you’re here”

Duffy’s squeak could be heard through the room

Maon walked away, taking his place adom

Duffy’s head came up “I tried to sneak in quietly”

Shim scooted over “It doesn’t matter, Duffy Come on up They know you’re here”

The gnome huffed a little as he pulled his body up and into the chair beside Shim “Don’t know as I like the way everyone talks about you”

Lach shrugged “I do kno I feel, but no one seems to care” He stared at the Seelie twins They were everything legend would have them be Perfect in form and function They looked like twins Neither of them had a ruined face and everyone took them seriously

His hand slid over the left side of his face, touching the ruined flesh there He stole a glance at Shiuilt evident every time Lach reminded him of that terrible day

“So we’rethe door with a fierce look on his face He’d used the forh The Host No one wanted to deal with the damn Host Duffy’s tiny hands clenched into fists “I think I can handle theht Warriors of the Fae should be able to take them down no trouble”

“They’re non-corporeal dead, Duffy I doubt your axe is going to work on them,” Shim pointed out