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She sighed It wasn’t the first time and wouldn’t be the last She loved her apart, especially because of the breathtaking view of the royal palace on the hill and the river winding its way through Drago But so doith regularity, or the hot water turning ice-cold without warning—since accepted the sacrifices she had toho hts of stairs

Then she consoled herself with the reminder that she needed the exercise anyway She’d had to cut her jog short this ht snowdrifts hadn’t been cleared yet, and the footing had been hazardous in the extreme

Still, Angelina was glad when she reached the seventh-floor landing and knew she had only one o She turned the corner, her hand on the railing, and stopped short at the sight of Alec sitting on the top step, his head and shoulder propped against the wall Fast asleep

Her heart had already been pounding fro for her, his face soft and vulnerable in sleep, kicked her pulse into overdrive and sent a wave of tenderness through her body She knew—because she’d suffered from the same lack of sleep as he obviously had—that his decision to break things off with her had cost hio Mentally Emotionally Physically

She also knew there could only be one reason why he was here—soned her commission before she could tell him And he’d come here totell her what? That he wasn’t worth the sacrifice? That he couldn’t accept it?

Alec had unilaterally decided to end their relationship the first tih she understood why—because of the way he’d been raised—it was ti to have to co that had to be ether

The stairwell door on the botto the stairs could be heard in the distance Alec jolted awake, his hand reaching for his SIG SAUER in the saelina herself would have made

Their eyes met across the distance that separated the expression she reloith hope And Angelina’s hope was kindled, too

She rushed up the stairs, but Alecthat lifted her feet fro else, just held her tight, not saying a word But the tiny flame of hope in her heart was fanned into a blaze

Angelina didn’t kno long they stood there on the stairs, lost in each other’s e the stairwell below therew closer, she murmured, “This is not the place My apartment, yes?”

So each other go And as soon as the door closed behind theelinahis fierce need the way she understood him

When Alec finally released her long enough for theainst hers and his eyes squeezed shut When they opened again she saw that same dampness in the Only this ti weren’t painful to watch This tiladdened her heart

“You resigned for me,” he whispered

“Yes And no”

He pulled back slightly and his broitched together “I don’t understand”

She sned because I love you, but not only because I love you I also resigned because this is work that must be done, and you h I always intended to eventually resume my career in the law, Alec, it was not an easy decision Even though I have been seeking job counseling fron now But I did not want to put it off, because—”

Air gusted out of Alec’s lungs “That’s just it, Angel You’re not going to believe this, but neither of us has to resign Neither of us has to sacrifice our honorour dutyto be together”

Her smile faded “Now I do not understand”

Alec explained Quickly Succinctly “So you see, there’s no need for you to resign after all And the king refuses to accept your resignation anyway” Then he said in a low voice, “I love you, Angel No one will ever love you more than I do Please believe that I just couldn’t ask you to give up everything for me—”