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Morning. It had been a quieter night, only a few extra bodies in the room with Laun. Her habit of getting up early had popped her eyes open as the morning light was brightening outside the window. She heard breathing, snoring. And the door opening and then closing, very quietly.
She heard movement and could follow it around towards the window. She pulled the covers back and saw Silar warming up. He had not been in the room the night before. Laun had asked to have food brought up to her and the people who were with her had come to her with the food. Some of it was for her own sanity, as the number of people who were asking to share her bed were far more than she was feeling comfortable with at the moment. And she had needed to talk to some people about the information she had gotten from the prisoner.
But that was last night. Silar was there this morning.
Laun made her way past Ali on the floor mat and to the rug. It was her time to startle him. He was naked, his clothing in a pile at the end of the rug. He turned from the window and stopped. She heard his breath catch, but more than that he did not show his surprise.
“Lady, I was hoping to help you with your workout this morning.”
She wished she could even fake a smile. She touched him on the shoulder. “Falion Silar Khan.”
He tensed. “Yes.” He had not used his full name since he had gotten to the Capitol City. Not before he had joined with the loyalists. Not at the keep.
Laun stepped closer and put her hand gently on his cheek. She tried to look into his eyes in the dark. She could see little, but thought she saw panic, even through his usual haughty calm. »Read More