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She’d killed a child tonight And to to have to hunt for ht now Later, after you’ve rested, you’ll see things more clearly"

They neared their suite and the lock opened for Angus He nodded to the camera outside their door--a silent thanks to Nicholas, as undoubtedly the one on the other end

"None of this makes sense," she told her husband as he set her down on their bed

"Of course not We’re all too tired to ure out what needs to be done"

"I need a bath" She sounded desperate, but she had to wash the s flesh from her hair

"Okay, love I’ll run one for you Stay put"

Gilda couldn’t support her weight enough to stay upright She slumped onto the pillows and felt tears slide over her te and she knew they were probably bloodshot froht

At least Angus wouldn’t know she’d cried She loved hih her tears

The fall of water splashing into the tub filled the quiet and helped block out the echoes of those sain Not ever She’d lost too many of her own babies over the centuries to take another from some other mother Even she was not that cruel

The Synestryn had finally won They’d found a way to protect their progeny fro them human faces

If she hadn’t seen it for herself, she never would have believed it

"The bath is ready," said Angus His strong body was outlined by the light from the bathroo and steady as he’d been when she first met him

She still didn’t understand why he loved her She’d done so ht was just one us in the tone he used to coht I won’t have you killing yourself with guilt"

Despite his harsh tone, his fingers were gentle as they undid the row of buttons down the front of her gown She’d have to burn the gray silk She’d never be able to wear it again without thinking of what she’d done wearing it tonight

Angus stripped her naked, then did the same for hih he had ray hair now, more scars, he was still beautiful to her

He picked her up again and headed for the bathrooood things for now We’re together We love each other We’re safe and healthy and surrounded by friends"

"How can you do that? How can you always see the good in things?"

He settled the her close so her weak body wouldn’t slip under the water "Because I have you All the rest of the world could fall away and as long as I still had you, I’d count ood for her, but she’d always known that It was only one of her many secrets

Maybe it was time to tell hi her, it was Angus

If

That was the problem Without him, she’d be lost As selfish as it was, she couldn’t risk that She needed him too much She’d driven everyone else she loved away

Gilda reinforced the door on that secret part of her htly locked and barred so he’d never see--never even suspect it was there She’d do anything to take back what she’d done, but it was too late for that She was going to have to live with it--one ivable ones she’d made There were so many, she wished she’d lose count, but she never did She remembered every one of them

"Good news," said Paul froreed to see you"

Andra closed her eyes and gave a quick prayer of thanks She kissed Nika’s head and eased off the bed

Paul was shirtless, and the sight of all those es made her heart pound It didn’t o She wanted more She probably alould

"Do you think she can help?" asked Andra

"It’s possible"

Grace had been knitting in the corner of the room for hours, but her needles stopped then She kept her eyes lowered when she spoke "I’ve heard about so, my lady I’m sure she’ll be able to help Nika"

Andra wanted to hug Grace for being so sweet She et in the way of lending someone else comfort "Thank you, Grace"

She blushed and her needles started h not as smoothly as before

"Let’s take a walk," said Paul, obviously wanting to talk to her "Grace can hold down the fort, right?"

"Yes, sir"

Andra nodded and followed hiainst the eastern horizon The rest of the sky was filled with stars

Paul was oddly quiet, al her, which wasn’t like hi?" she asked

He looked like he didn’t want to talk His jaas bunched, but he finally gave up the fight "Yeah I shouldn’t have done what I did to you last night It was inexcusable"

Andra frowned at him, at a total loss She even tried to peek into his ure out what heher in and it hts with hi to miss that when she left "We shouldn’t have had sex?"

"No Of course not that I’ about what happened after"

When he’d hurt her "Forget about it," she said "I have"