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Laine scoffed She looked at the gorgeous sight surrounding her She’d never seen this many striped roses in one place They had talked idly about bringing reenery to the outside of the palace, but her focus had been on the interior That he would do this…

“Aziz, it’s beautiful,” she said, touching his arm

He took her hand and walked with her down a path through the roses “The smile on your face is all the reason I needed That they will always remind me of you, if you leave me, will also be a reward”

“I have to Once the job is over…” Laine felt her resolve waning “Maybe I could send an e I need another week…teeks is such a short tie plans”

“Yes, you should do this”

“But I’m on thin ice as it is”

“I will speak to him,” Aziz declared When Laine opened her mouth to protest, he touched her cheek and shook his head “Some men cannot hear you It isn’t ideal, but it is true He will listen to what I have to say, and he will take the additional stipend that I send to secure your services, and he will not complain”

Laine said nothing She felt odd about letting Aziz be her protector She’d had to be her own advocate for so long that it felt strange to have someone nearby who had the power to protect her To defend her To hold up her value to others ould diminish it

“If you can do that, I thank you” Laine thought for aI overheard I would have left, but you tere going at it so loudly”

Aziz turned his head, al embarrassed “We are passionate”

“So Hadiya tells me Passion I’ve seen froht you should know that I appreciate it I could be just so Maybe that’s true But you kept your brother fro badly about me Not everyone would do that”

Aziz stopped walking and sighed “My brother…”

He took her hand and led her to the fountain to sit on the edge Laine looked up at hi to di

“Aziz?”

“I aers through both sides of his hair and looked up at the sky, as though seeking strength “It was not meant to be so,” he said finally He let his hands drop into his lap “It should have been Amin I should not have even had the chance to take this from him”