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When I first saw her, I’d recognized her beauty, but it didn’t affect me, not the way it affected the other men in her life She didn’t see the eyes that followed her everywhere she went, the way they would drop to her ass the second she turned around With her perfectly styled hair and expertly applied ed on a throne with a crown of diamonds But in the elements, when all those luxuries were stripped ahen her beauty really started to shine

That hen I noticed it

Her ed for breeches and a tunic, and her jewelry had been replaced by a bow and a sword That was the moment she became the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen

“About before—”

“No”

She raised herself slightly to look at me

I turned back to the fire “We don’t talk about that”

Her stare was focused on the side of my face

“Don’t bring it up again” Whatever this was, it had an expiration date, a date that could co day It didn’t oing to stopmy father’s death and my mother’s violation…and ht in front of her if it came down to it

Without remorse

We were just a moment in time

Her head returned to my shoulder

In silence, we listened to the wind and the fire, and aited for the storm to pass

“What was your father like?” She propped herself up on her elbow as she looked down at entle caresses

“Strong Silent Focused”

“I meant with you”

“He taught y Prepared me to replace him, even when I was just a boy My childhood was spent in his shadoas never treated as a child, but as aI am today…is because of him”

“I can see that”

“But I could tell he didn’t do it just out of obligation—but pleasure He enjoyed spending time with me My brother too”

“It sounds like you were his favorite”

“I was just the eldest Ian understands”

“You and your brother are close”

I gave a nod

“My brother and I are close too…” Her features droppedthe light in her eyes “We weren’t ere younger, but after Moot sick…ere”

Now that Ivory was gone, I was certain Faron would use his son as a pawn instead to gain entry to the Capital That was all his kids were to him—tools Ivory didn’t see it, but I saw it as clear as crystal “I’ve seen him with a lot of different women”

She rolled her eyes and gave a chuckle at the sae…?”

“Why didn’t you hold on to your virginity?”

She turned back tome an incredulous look