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. I care about you.That s what I m trying to say.I m here for you, if you ever needsomeone to talk to, someone you can be yourself around. Levana bit her lower lip, irritated, but also filled with such adoration for this man that she wantedto weep.Her gaze traced the continents of Earth, the patchwork of raw edges and shimmering goldthread.She inhaled, deeply. I know, she said. I know you care about me.You re the only one who does. Smiling bashfully,she dared to meet his eyes again. First the pendant and now the quilt.It seems as though you re tryingto give me the whole world, Sir Hayle. He shook his head. Only some kindness, Your Highness. Her smile brightened as she stepped closer, her bare feet treading across the luxurious quilt,crossing over Antarctica, the Atlantic Ocean & Are you sure? she asked, imitating the seductive wayshe d seen Channary look up through her lashes at a potential suitor. Are you sure that s all you re herefor, Sir Hayle? His attention had dropped to her feet crossing over the quilt.His brow furrowed. Your Highness? I m not confused, Evret.I m not lonely. She grasped the top edge of the quilt, and Evret let go.She let it fall to the ground, and his alarmed expression returned.Evret stepped back, but without even realizing she was doing it, Levana reached out with her gift,subtly holding his feet in place. Wha ? I m in love with you, Evret. The concern deepened, a hundredfold. Your Highness no, that s not I know.I know.You were happily married.You loved your wife very much.I get it.But she sgone now, and I m here, and don t you see? This was how it was meant to happen.This was alwayshow it was meant to happen. His mouth was hanging open now, staring at her as if he didn t recognize her.As if he hadn t beensmiling so sweetly at her a moment before, saying all those endearing things he d said.As if he hadn talready confessed the truth.Friendship.Friendship.No.The pendant, the quilt, his being here all alone in her chambers.This was not a man who wanted to be friends.He was hers, as much as she was his.He held up his hands to block her as she inched forward again. Stop this, he hissed, keeping hisvoice low, as if worried that the guards outside the door might hear, might interrupt. This is what I wasafraid of.I know that you have he struggled for a moment to find a word feelings for me, YourHighness, and I am flattered, but I m trying to I could be her, you know, Levana interrupted. If that makes it easier for you. His brow twitched, dismayed. What? I m very good at it.You saw & you saw how convincing I can be. What are you The glamour of Solstice Hayle came easier this time, a little bit easier every time.Levana was sureshe d committed the woman to memory, from the slender arch of her eyebrows to the subtle curl at theend of her long, dark hair.Evret recoiled from her, though his feet remained bolted to the floor. Princess.Stop it. But this is what you want, isn t it? This way you can have both.I ll be your wife.I ll be themother of your child.Pretty soon people will forget all about the one that died, it will just be me andyou and our perfect family, and you ll be a prince, Evret, which will be so much better than being aguard and Stop it! She froze, the fire in her veins doused with the anger in his tone.His breath had become ragged andhe was leaning so far away from her she worried he would fall over.Scowling, Levana released thepower she held over his feet and he stumbled back until he was pressing against a wall. Please, he said. Please go back to how you were.You don t understand & you don t know howyou re hurting me. Embarrassment wound its way up Levana s throat, coupled with determination that was just asstrong.She stepped closer, almost touching him.Evret tried to shrink away, but he had nowhere to go. You can t tell me that you don t want me.After the birthday gift, and the card.After & every timeyou ve smiled at me, and& Good stars, Princess, I ve been trying to be nice. You love me! Don t deny it. You re a child. She ground her teeth, dizzy with wanting. I m a woman, as much as Solstice was.I m almost thesame age as my mother when she was married. Don t.Don t. His eyes were sparking now.Anger, maybe.Or passion.She looked down at his clenched hands, imagined them on her waist, pulling her closer. I knowI m right.You don t have to deny it anymore. No! You re wrong.I love my wife, and though you may look like her right now, you are not her. He turned his face away, cringing from his own words. The last time I was in this palace I disobeyedmy queen, and now I ve insulted my princess before I ve even returned to my post.I can t& Hegrimaced. By my word, I will tender my resignation from the royal guard tonight, and plead the crownwill be merciful. Wetness was pooling in Levana s eyes, but she blinked it away. No.Your resignation is refused,and I will tell Channary to refuse it as well. He groaned. Your Highness, please don t& I won t let you.And I won t let you deny what I know in my heart to be true. Levana had always been much more adept at using her glamour than at controlling a person semotions.That sort of manipulation was a job better left to the thaumaturges, with all their training andskills.But now she forced her way into Evret s thoughts as easily as plunging a finger into wet soil.Guards were always easily controlled a security measure and Evret was no different.His mindoffered no resistance. You love me, she said.Pleaded.She pressed her body against his, feeling the warmth and thestrength and the forcefulness of his hands suddenly gripping her upper arms. You love me. He turned his head away.She could see the struggle on his face, feel the resistance that he tried tothrow up around his mind.Around his heart.A pathetic attempt.He couldn t resist her.She wouldn t allow it.Not now.Not when he was meant to be hers.Whenshe knew he wanted this as much as she did, if only he would see it. You love me, she whispered, her voice softer this time. We belong together.You and me.This isfate, Evret.Fate. Princess She filled his heart with desire, his body with longing, his mind with the same certainty that shefelt.She poured all her own emotions into him, and felt his resistance crumble.He shuddered,overwhelmed with all the same feelings that overwhelmed her. Tell me I m right.Tell me you love me. I & I love you. The words were barely a murmur, cracking with desperation, and his entire bodysagged with their release. Sol& The name sent a jolt of hatred through her, but was forgotten when Evret Hayle pulled her closeand kissed her.She gasped against his mouth, and he said it again, breathing the word into her
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