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"Aye, and toying withabout?" she deive it up' then reneging"

"I never led you on!"

"Did you no' juain - " Her words ended in a shriek directly in his ear when he leapt froain See, everything's fine" As soon as he'd gotten the her shoulders until she was steady enough to stand on her own But she launched herself right back at hi a tree

He stared down at her "Mariketa?"

"Th-thanks for not letting me die"

He dragged her arms up around his neck, then pressed her head to his chest, drawing her close "I will never let anything happen to you" As she clutched hi - finally the protector he'd been born to be

She whispered, "Bowen, I think you're quite possibly ht now"

- Yours -

I know He did For weeks he'd thought of her, dreamed of her Her passion had awed him Her bravery and beauty amazed him Now he simply allowed himself to accept what he'd wanted so desperately

She was his

Her for him Period

"I can't believe you could hold on like that," she said "You're really, uh, strong"

"I'm supposed to be, to protect you"

They both fell silent

"Not me, MacRieve"

"I've made a decision, lass" He drew back and cupped her face "If given the chance I would no' go back You'reto do whatever it takes, till I'm yours as well"

She made a frustrated sound "Typical male! Because of what happened in the cave?"

"Aye, some But also because of what happened after We fit, you and aze held hers - "we're going to have a bloody good time of it"

Chapter 17

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As they continued on, MacRieve grew quiet, seeht of the world on his shoulders Mari couldn't read hiretted his earlier declaration

To break the silence, she said, "You roup"

He shrugged "I'm no' much part of that - or I have no' been for some time" At her quizzical look, he said, "They question why I have no' found a way to die afterthe, you sods And look at my reward'"

Mari - alert - over your head!

"Have you been around my kind much before?" he asked