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He tried to hold himself very still

“Damn”

The accent didn’t sound French

“Dah more than a cannonball”

No, definitely not French Casting caution to the wind, Devlin slithered inside the tunnel

A tiny trickle of light penetrated the gloo between two slabs of charcoal gray stone

The scuffling was growing louder, and in the next instant a head e

“Anna” It came out no louder than a breath of air

She wriggled free of the stones and looked up

Their eyes met

“I love you,” he blurted out

Her dirt-streaked face went through a series of odd contortions before wreathing a smile “No, no, first you’re supposed to say, ‘However did you e to escape from the dastardly villains?’ so I can tell you how clever I was”

“Clearly I’ve no idea how to be a proper hero” He reached out and clasped her hand “I love you,” he repeated “Noever did you e to escape from the dastardly villains?”

Anna pulled herself closer “Kiss me first”

“Gladly But wouldn’t you rather we first get outside into the fresh air and sunlight?”