d, Valeria felt the pressure of her circ

ated

e who sat in the chair opposite her so casually, sippin

el D

husb

ca

rst ni

tle - making her ea

, the war would n

t broken.

ing, she tore free of his

Kind o

ce disrupted

ook be

glare, but he

 for me to drop d

f I had wanted you dead, you wouldn't

if he were talking about the

ed. "Then w

r and put his elb

earn soon

t in a way she didn't like - as if

o get out

bidde

ft her alone in his bedroom, Va

o allow him to con

- she had already disco

s enormous. There must 

to cross the room,

ock

lse qu

his a

busy to th

dged into the d

silent, the distant almost

ing to the shadows, her hea

ind a weapon.

sudd

fr

the hall loo

slightl

her she didn't

y was a trea

had everyt

King's

inside, holdi

through the massive windows, illuminatin

eath h

ered with

any pho

os o

s stomac

shots, some from years before, s

held out her hands, trembl

her walking out

was before she eve

an down h

t a purchas

plann

t picked a

as hu

t in

rkness behind her

d, catching her br

me, his emerald eyes crackling wit

aren't you? C

ood ra

et her c

her to dis

st another one

s, not wanting to betray fear

irk de

ollec

omach

u've been 

His voice was

lse thundere

ed her te

the air around them

he words low as he lifted a ha

you were supp

eria, once she un