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That got her to laugh. “Sorry, honey, it’s delivery tonight. Can’t cook dinner, the rice cooker’s firmware is updating again.”

He joined her in laughter as she fished a seltzer out of the fridge and cracked the top. She offered him one, but he shook his head politely and lifted his coffee mug.

After a long moment of silence, she seemed to resign herself to something. “Thank you, Gideon.”

“For what?”

“Being patient with me. I know we’ve…done this a lot. Gone around a lot. I don’t know how many times, and I certainly don’t remember anywhere near all of it. But I can see you’re trying, and that means a lot.”

He smiled. “It’s my pleasure, princess. I will wait for you until I turn to dust in my tomb or until the stars grow cold in the sky. Whichever comes first.”

She rolled her eyes again. “I amend my statement. Melodramatic rich people.” She sipped her seltzer. “I’m going to go talk to Harry before he rips his hair out.”

He watched as she headed past him toward the door outside. “I’d leave him out there to sulk, honestly.”

“I know you would.” She patted his shoulder. “That’s part of the problem. I know you’re keeping him around for my sake, but honestly, I think you’d both be happier if you let him go.”

“Perhaps.”

He waited until she was gone, the door shutting behind her, before he finished his sentence with a sigh. “Sadly, I am not the one who can free him.”