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‘There’s always a first ti’

There is no anger left inside hme tremble My voice when I speak is shaky ‘See, if it was ineered a captive audience for my first time’

‘I’m not you,’ he says

I take his hand It’s hard, sure and warm, and he twirls me around and catches me expertly

I gasp in surprise ‘You lied’

‘I said I didn’t dance I didn’t say I couldn’t dance’

I glance down at the inert ht?’

‘Nah He’ll always be an asshole,’ he says in my ear

I laugh ‘Where did you learn to dance?’

He pullswith vitality and y

‘We were taught to,’ he says

‘Who is ‘we’?’

He runs his lips along , aren’t you?’ he murmurs in my hair

‘Is it a secret?’

So flashes in his eyes ‘The door is closed and you don’t have permission to enter’

‘Who has permission?’

‘No one’

‘Isn’t it lonely in your golden castle, Zane?’

‘It’s safe Anyhy do you want one in a month’

‘Why does it have to end in athat suits us both?’

‘That door is closed Dahlia Just enjoy thisbeyond this’

My body tre in a boat that’s slowly sinking Soon the water will s it all

‘Nothing?’ I hear my voice ask

‘Nichego’ There is a wistful sadness in his voice

‘Is that Russian for nothing?’ I ask looking up into his face, searching for that corresponding sign of emotion

He nods

I press my face into his chest so that I can’t see his eyes So that he can’t seeafter this then why can’t you tellto lose’

‘Ahhhhh, Little fox Don’t you know, the king is never killed by his enemies, but by his courtiers? By the people he trusted with his secrets’

‘You think I would betray you?’

‘I don’t know What do you think, little one? If soernails one by one can I still trust you?’