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And yours does?

She continued, "You've two sisters, Mia and Zoe, who you barely speak to They have their own lives, and you wonder if maybe you should have involved them more in your quest You're ashamed because you found yourself envious of a friend of yours who'd finally found his mate A Lykae I think his nah he was discomfited by what she'd seen Because he was envious, and he con­sidered that a weakness A good man would be happy for a friend

But Rydstro years of his life, it seemed that one at a time, each of his comrades had found their fe he could only dreaun to pity him for the lack

His mien was stoic, but she could tell he was unsettled by all that she'd discovered "Anything else, sorceress?"

"Lots and lots" The demon was a solitary male He had friends but was too obsessed with his mission to enjoy them He didn't approve of his disreputable brother or his brother's crew of mercenaries, so he didn't spend unnecessary time with them

Sabine had taken him from no lover

"Mainly," she said, "I saw that you arelonely" And his loneliness had called to her-which eneral state of vexation Last night, when she'd iined the pain Rydstrom would feel to have his ar that she hadn't even heard Hettiah approaching to attack Feelings made people stupid, vulnerable

And more, she'd been embarrassed by what Rydstroet the revolted look on his face when he'd surveyed what used to be his

For some reason, she didn't want him to think that just because she lived here, she was like them

Just because I don't flinch doesn't ht to be in my head!" He twisted in the bed, his lips thinned in obvious pain "And then you made me dream of"

"Dream of what, Rydstrom?" She'd missed it "I bade you to drea Did your rew closed "It's none of your con-cern"

She let that drop For now "I've also seen that you want to takethough-I'ainst the most powerful sorcerer ever to live"

"I saw your power You're stronger than he is"

"Don't play to my considerable vanity, de" "Ally with me and seek asylum within our arot, you haven't one At least with Omort, I'm kept protected from your kind"

"Becoain"

She sat at the foot of the bed "That's the difference between me and you I won't try to convert you Do I like that you never lie and estees like valor? Of course not But I don't try to rid you of those traits Why does your kind forever seek to change ours?" That hat she hated most about them-not their odd,

counter-intuitive beliefs per se, but that they would force them on others

"Because we live more contented lives We have loy­alty, fidelity, honor-"

"All three are overrated The only chance you have to de or someone that you desire"