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Das when she'd slept with hihts When he wrapped his arhtly as he would

his most treasured prize And whenever he did that, she fell into a deep numb sleep

Sabine welcomed it now The heat from his body was so palpable, it seemed to stroke her in the dark The world soon fell away

She woke in the night, blinking her eyes to find hi her, his face so weary

"No more bad dreams, love"

Had he seen her dream? She didn't remember it-

He pressed his lips to her hair "You're safe, now" He eased his hand to her face so slowly, touching her cheek with the softest caress she'd ever received It was almost as if he'd practiced how not to startle her

Her last thought before sleep claiet used to having a demon hus­band

31

"Retro-Aht her changes of clothing the nextHe was relieved to see that her face and body had healed overnight

Though she'd just awakened, he'd already bathed in nearby hot springs, dressed in new clothes, and er to turn over the governing-and the problems-of the camp to him

They'd been rife with curiosity about Sabine Was she the king's concubine or prisoner or both! Rydstro, just commanded that while she was not to be freed, she was to be shown the utmost respect- and that everyone here be apprised of that order

Sabine gave a nod at the clothes "Let uess- from Durinda?"

"Yes, they're courtesy of her" After Rydstrouided hi He was an orphan that Durinda

hoped to foster in the future Though the demoness clearly knew Rydstroh, and the boy ree my brother hen I sent hi last night They favor ht, word of Sabine and Rydstrom's iden­tity had spread to the entire populace The people were uneasy about the sorceress within their ht he was going to hed on him Everywhere he looked he saork that needed to be done And food was growing scarce here All the gao farther afield, which put theers

He wished he had someone to speak with about this He wished he had Sabine to speak with But they'd had only had one real conversation

"Conservative gary?"

"Call it what you will"

"You don't seeht," she observed "Not still bristling about the baby-or lack thereof?"

Rydstroht before At the tiht she orried about his that weren't there, wanting her to be anxious for hiry about that, but about the deception And I've since becolad that you aren't"

"Is that so?" she asked, her tone disbelieving

"I know little of children or of the starting of faure there should be no hatred between the parents"

"Rydstroht I was furious Look, whether I deserved the last two days or not, they've still been very difficult for me And your female is not mild-tempered in the best of circu, "Maybe a hot bath would be welcome" She'd just sounded so reason­able