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That drew Lucien’s attention, the h to take in Rhys--to note Cassian andin the doorway "Is there a cost?"

"If you’re trying to say that you have no ave hi to ask if this is soh Lord’s son It would be bad manners not to house and clothe you in your ti him, I shot down the bond

But it’s so fun, ca had rattled hi Lucien was an easy way to take the edge off I stepped closer, Cassian re behind me as I told Lucien, "We’ll be back for dinner in a few hours Rest a while--bathe If you need anything, pull that rope by the door"

Lucien stiffened--not at what I’d said, I realized, but at the tone A hostess But he asked, "What of--Elain?"

Your call, Rhys offered

"I need to think about it," I answered plainly "Until I figure out what to do with her, with Nesta, stay out of their way" I added perhaps too tightly, "This house is warded against ing, both from outside and within There’s one way out--the stairs to the city It, too, is warded--and guarded Please don’t do anything stupid"

"So a in Rhys, but I shook my head "No But understand while you may be her mate, Elain is my sister I’ll do what I must to protect her from further harm"

"I would never hurt her"

A bleak sort of honesty in his words

I si a breath, and ave no indication of my wordless plea as he said, "You are free to wander where you wish, into the city itself if you feel like braving the stairs, but there are two conditions: you are not to take either sister, and you are not to enter their floor If you require a book from the library, you will ask the servants If you wish to speak to Elain or Nesta, you will also ask the servants, ill ask us If you disregard those rules, I’ll lock you in a roo into his pockets as he offered his hooked elbow to h his, but said to Lucien, "We’ll see you in a few hours"

We were almost to the door, Cassian already in the hall, when Lucien said to me, "Thank you"

I didn’t dare ask hiht to A as we soared over the rooftops of Velaris My smile wasn’t faked when I waved back to thehter while I did so, his own sht as the sun on the Sidra

Mor and Azriel were already waiting inside Amren’s apartainst the hile the dark-haired fees of books sprawled around her on the floor

Mor gave rateful, relieved look as we entered, Azriel’s own face revealing nothing while he stood, keeping a careful, too-casual distance from her side But it was Amren who said from the floor, "You should kill Beron and his sons and set up the handsoh Lord of Autumn, self-imposed exile or no It will make life easier"

"I’ll take that into consideration," Rhys said, striding toward her while I re back … Amren had to be in some mood

I blew out a breath "Who else thinks it’s a terrible idea to leave the three of them up at the House of Wind?"