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She should end this kiss now, before things went too far She should—

Brochan gave a guttural shout and disengaged from her mouth, inch by inch First, he lifted his head Then he peeled his chest fro her to stand on her oer Then he stepped back, ensuring no part of them touched A chill rushed over her

Reeling, Viola fought for breath She couldn’t make sense of what had just happened He had stopped the kiss? He had? He’d dared? But why?

Was it possible…? No, it couldn’t be Except, what if his as stronger than hers?

But, but… She preferred to win, not lose Didn’t he realize that?

A nehimper attempted to escape, but she clenched her teeth The asn’t lost She could change Brochan’s s her way

“You toldI don’t like to your attention,” she said as casually as she couldI didn’t like You stopped”

He sucked in a breath Then he flashed outside the stall and picked up the towel he’d dropped Averting his gaze, he offered the linen to her “Turn off the water Dry and get dressed You have clothing and no excuses now”

The war ht be lost

Though her knees treift As she dressed, he pivoted, offering his back

Herto tell me why you stopped?” Excellent She sounded curious rather than hurt Because she wasn’t hurt She’d have to care for him to experience hurt over a rejection, and she didn’t care Not even a little “Did you recall the fact that soh for me?”

Hurt ain, she wasn’t hurt And she still didn’t care

Stiff as a board, he told her, “You’ll find nourish as you remain in the fortress, you’ll be safe No need to worry that you’ll be harmed There are no threats here, because you are the only resident I’ll return in a week or so—”

What! “Did you say a week? Or so? You’re leaving?” He planned to abandon her? “And what do you mean, the only resident?” To while away her days without companionship, exactly as she’d done as a child in her otten palace? At least in Tartarus, there’d been living beings in the cell next to hers “I require an adoring public!” she shrieked, panic budding

“And yet you won’t get one”

The panic mutated into full-blown hysteria “Don’t leave ? Yes! Her pride was nowhere to be found “I proain, honest I won’t even shower Okay? Just stay here and—”