She Was Right About Something Else Too,"

Abe's Face Came Back Into Focus. "greetings, Zmey," I Said Weakly. Somehow, Him Being Here Didn't Surprise Me. "nice Of You To Slither On In." He Shook His Head, Wearing A Rueful Smile. "i Think You've Outdone Me When It Comes To Sneaking Around Dark Corners. I Thought You Were On Your Way Back To Montana." "next Time, Make Sure You Write A Few More Details Into Your Bargains. Or Just Pack Me Up And Send Me Back To The U. S. For Real." "oh," He Said, "that's Exactly What I Intend To Do." He Kept Smiling As He Said It, But Somehow, I Had A Feeling He Wasn't Joking.

That's Smart. Once Sonya's Able To Talk, We'll Need To Move." He Smiled. "sydney's Turning Into A Battle Mastermind." "hey, She's Not In Charge Here," I Teased. "she's Just A Soldier." "right." He Lightly Brushed His Fingers Against My Cheek. "sorry, Captain." "general," I Corrected, Catching My Breath At That Brief Touch.

Taking A Deep Breathe, I Made One Of The Hardest Decisions Of My Life. I Walked Away.

Naptime,ʺ Said Christian, Leading Her Toward The Bed. ʺi Still Need A Shower.ʺ ʺsleep First. Shower Later.ʺ He Pulled Back The Covers. ʺiʹll Sleep With You.ʺ ʺsleep Or Sleep?ʺ She Asked Dryly, Sliding Gratefully Into Bed. ʺreal Sleep. You Need It.ʺ He Crawled In Beside Her, Spooning Against Her And Resting His Face On Her Shoulder. ʺof Course, Afterward, If You Want To Conduct Any Official Council Business...ʺ ʺi Swear, If You Say ‘little Dragomirs,ʹ You Can Sleep In The Hall.

I Had Never Thought I Could Love Another Person This Much. I Also Never Thought I’d Live In Such Fear Of Losing Another Person. Was This How Everyone In Love Felt? Did They All Cling Tightly To Their Beloved And Wake Up Terrified In The Middle Of The Night, Afraid Of Being Alone? Was That An Inevitable Way Of Life When You Loved So Deeply? Or Was It Just Those Of Us Who Walked On A Precipice Who Lived In Such Panic?