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"The people wouldn't accept a feh for another go?" A lock of his thick black hair fell over his forehead, but he could do nothing to move it from his eyes

"I'm fated to conceive and deliver a healthy boy for your heir"

"A son" Had his voice roughened? "One I'll never see if you have your way Never to teach or protect"

She fell silent Contrary to popular belief, Sabine didn't relish hurting those who'd never done anything to her But she didn't rule the world-yet-and so she couldn't change the outcome of this situation For her and Lanthe to be safe at last, a de down This dee that couldn't be helped

"Wait if you know you're going to have a healthy boy, then you could assassinate ed her face and expression with an illusion, so he never saw her glance away

"I won't leave behind my child to be raised here, in blood and hatred I've heard the ru on in Tornin Blood sacrifices and perversions In my home"

"Omort does so enjoy his blood sacrifices"

The demon's lips parted "Listen to yourself! You're so inured, you can't even realize how sick your world is"

She narrowed her eyes ]ust because I don't flinch doesn't mean I'm blind

Sabine kne sick it was all too well That hy she was deteret oing to keep me chained the entire time? I know better than most that this cell is inescapable"

"Security isn't the only reason I'll keep you bound I want to be certain you don't release any steaether, so you'll be in a bad way" When she traced a finger down his chest, the muscles in his torso con­tracted in response "But it occurs tohere, then you ht about what that would have meant for you? If you hadn't resorted to this?"

"You mean if we'd ood to me? True to me?" Her tone was amused "If I hadn't been called to capture you this eve, I'd thought about setting myself up as a waitress at your favorite restaurant I would have been the winsome but down-on-her-luck Lorean, ears dresses with floral patterns and who needs just one little break to beat the rat race-or a male to save her" She chuckled at that "I'd planned to serve you pie and let you peek up my skirt"

"If I hadn't known differently, then, yes, you prob­ably would have found yourself with an honorable ood to you"

"They say a lie never leaves your tongue"

"You sound disbelieving"

"Because I am I've never known ait and changing it at will"

"I don't"

"Then tellyou'd hoped for physically?"

He did that silent challenge thing with his eyes, then said, "Morally you're not I hadn't expected to be saddled with one of the most evil females in the Lore"

Omort's words from earlier resonated within her How disappointed the demon must be

"One of the most? Not number one?" She pouted "Well, everyone needs aspirations Interestingly, I've never considered myself eeevil Just because I occasion' ally steal"

When he scowled at that, she a"

"Why do you have to steal?"

She blinked at hi pool?"

"Maybe you could do without"