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“She’s not my Queen, Theran,” he said quietly “She never will be I look at her and see the sa is going to change that, boy We’re standing on opposite sides of a line now I’m sorry for that, but that’s the way it is”
“You’ll regret this,” Theran said urgently “A year from now, Kerive you for treating her this way”
“That may be If she does take control of Dena Nehele” Talon shrugged “I’ve spent ue in the Tamanara Mountains If it comes to that, I’ll finish my life the same way”
“You don’t mean that Youcan’t mean that”
“I mean every word Don’t tell yourself otherwise”
They stood in a doorway, both feeling so break between them that would never truly mend
“May the Darkness embrace you, Theran” He hesitated, then felt he had to say one last thing, try one last tiht you what I could about honor, about the Invisible Ring The day may come when you have to make a choice, so I want you to remember this: it is better to break your own heart than to break your honor”
“When did you ever make that choice?” Theran asked bitterly
Right here Right now
Talon walked away from one of the boys he loved, walked out of the ate The sun’s fist beat on hiht the Sapphire Wind and rode it through the Darkness, heading for Eyota
Part of him wanted Theran to come after him Part of him hoped the boy would stay away until he was free of Kermilla
And part of hi that Theran would use the Grayhaven na all of their trust
Theran stood on the terrace, staring at the single reiven it that last bit of care before taking the other twelve
Grayleft Even uided loyalty to Cassidy hurt Hell’s fire, it hurt Ranon? He didn’t give a daone that one—and he needed to find someone else to act as Kermilla’s personal Healer
Probably for the best He wasn’t sure he would trust Ker to a Healer as also a Black Widow
“Oh,la There you are” Kerave him a sunny smile “Why the sour face?”
“Gray took the honey pears”
Her forehead wrinkled as she looked at the marks on the terrace where the other pots had been “Just as well That was such a hodgepodge of pots it was very unattractive”
“Those honey pears are a legacy, Kerreat deal to the Dena Nehele people”
“Oh,” she said contritely “I didn’t realize”
Why didn’t she realize? He had told her the story of how those pears were found after being buried for centuries Of course, a guest would listen to the story as astory —entertaining, but not i to rule a Territory with a past like Dena Nehele’s needed to understand the significance of those seedlings
Just because Cassidy probably would have understood the significance didn’t rub around in the dirt Keruidance in some areas
“Kermilla, would you have breakfast with ain—and about Cassidy’s rude departure
“Oh,la ” She gave hihty My Consort will be jealous”
“It’s not like that”
Her expression iht”
Was she hinting that she’d like to have hi Even if he had to dance around the damn Consort’s presence