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"Kiss ainst her roaning into herhimself as his cool, thick crea her felt like a spiritual baptis her of the last of the sins of her father

Korvel eased over onto his side, his penis still planted deep within her, and he cradled her close, stroking her back with a soothing caress "I don’t want you kissing any other ood at it"

"Don’t worry" She tucked her face against his neck "I never will"

Gabriel glanced up at theof the town house where they had left Korvel and Siht his lover’s arm before she reached for the door "We should take a walk around the block"

"Let’s not and say we did" She looked down at his hand "Baby, I’m tired, I’m cranky, and ets between ret it Deeply"

"It is a beautiful night," he said "Look at these houses They were built in the seventeenth century"

"It’s freezing and architecture bores , so just tellNick’s dislike of Simone, he chose his words carefully "I think Korvel and his lady need a little time alone"

"She’s his lady now?" Nicola made a rude sound "Please She adave hi? He could be calling Richard She could be polishing her crucifix"

Gabriel took her ar to the bedroomhas an excellent view of the bed"

"No wonder you never rent porn" She sighed and started down the steps "All right Co architecture"

While they walked Gabriel pointed out several interesting features of the old town houses, but his lover appeared lost in her own thoughts Their bond per the ship she had been withdrawing into herself and locking away her feelings, as if she needed to hide the the revolution, some of the local aristocrats ju up "The people caught thee nets, freed them, and then painted their faces with rainbows and unicorns"

"How cool" Nicola kept walking

Gabriel came around and blocked her path "If you do not tell , I will tickle you Unhborhood"

"I’ave the town houses a wan look "Fuck the balconies"

"Nick" He bent down and pressed his brow to hers "Talk toto think it’s stupid," she warned When he shook his head, she shoved her hands in her pockets "Korvel was in love with Alex, right? So why he is up therethe French connection?"

Gabriel felt more rather than less confused "Korvel cannot have Alexandra She does not want him"

"But you said that they were bonded As in, he couldn’t resist her He had to have her She was his life co to love her forever" She flung a hand in the general direction of the safe house "If that’s true, why is that happening? And don’t give me that crap about an incomplete bond Alex may have been torn between two lovers, but does this mean a Kyn lord can survive a broken bond and rebond, or what?"

Gabriel heard the bleakness behind the anger in her voice "Are you upset with Korvel for breaking his bond with a woman who doesn’t want him, or afraid that I will find someone else to love if we are separated?"

"I just need to know that if anything happens to h pain, baby" She shook her head "Forget it I need to get our stuff froet it" Gabriel followed her to where they had parked the car Once he unlocked the trunk, she began searching through a bag "Nicola, I will not let anything co, but it was not deliberate or malicious, and he has paid for it many times over I think he deserves some happiness"

"We all do, baby Just not with a wo the scroll, checking it before she closed the lid and set it on the ground "Where did you put the sha" Gabriel watched her for another moment before he finally understood "You think I would violate our bond That is why you’re angry with Korvel Because he has freed himself from Alexandra, you believe I will do the same with you I have told you--"

"You love ot it" She bent down and picked up the scroll case "We shouldn’t leave this in the car Do you think they’re finished by now, or should we go find a hotel room?"

Before Gabriel could reply, the latches she had left open on the case caround

"Damn it" Nicola reached down and picked up the artifact "This thing is such a pain in the ass" An expression he didn’t recognize crossed her face as she shook her head, putting the artifact back in the case and closing it before she handed it to hiain, her voice sounded hollow "Gabriel, don’t touch this thing Ever Promise me"

"I have no desire to," he assured her