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She nodded, but worry made her suddenly nauseous. “Is Hel with her?”

“He is.”

“Oh, good. That makes me feel better. I do not want her alone out there. She worries me. I know she is a formidable warrior, but we are mortal now.” She licked her bottom lip. It was still strange for her to say that. She had never feared death before, or even worried about Valeen one day being taken. It made each day more precious.

“I’m sorry this happened.” His voice was softer now. Gentle and repentant. “I told you you’d be safe here and then I let this happen.”

“You cannot control everything, Thane.”

“I know but you’re in my house. Security is my responsibility.”

“All anyone can do is their best. The rest is up to fate.”

“Well, sometimes you have to make your own. Do you still have that dagger I gave you?”

She nodded. It was strapped to her thigh.

“Would you be willing to train more with me? If you have to run rather than fight… we need to get your endurance up.” He pulled another few pieces quickly. “I’m almost finished.”

This new mortal body of hers did need it. Sometimes her thighs burned, and she felt out of breath just climbing the many stairs in this castle. She peeked over her shoulder at him and curled one corner of her mouth, “What sort ofendurancetraining did you have in mind?”

He paused, lifting his emerald eyes to her face. He then let out a deep chuckle and went back to plucking. “Running, Katana.”

“That sounds rigorous and sweaty.”

“It usually is.”

“Will you be shirtless at least? It might take my mind off the actual running part.”

He laughed again. “I could be… so could you.”

“I am certain if I was running around topless, even with a bralette, the gossip would put you into an early grave. You threw your tunic over me the last time.”

“I don’t mind if it’s just you and I.”

She smiled at him. “So youcanflirt. You are so serious all the time, I began to wonder.”

He set the tweezers on the metal tray, picked up the cloth and dipped it into the water basin. Water splashed as he wrung it out. Then he gently started dabbing her scraped and bruised ribs. “I wasn’t always.”

He was heartbroken. She could see it in his aura at times, a gray-blue swirling around his chest, usually when her sister was around. “So tomorrow morning we go for a run, tops optional.”

He worked the cloth slowly across her skin with the care a lover might use. “At least wear one until we get off the castle grounds.”

“What if I just wore a cloak and nothing else?”

His cheeks lightly flushed, and he smiled. “You, Katana, are trouble.”

“At least you are smiling again. And do not worry, I will be fully clothed.”

“A shame really.”

Now she was the one with a little flush to her cheeks. A few words like that made her stomach flutter like she was a young maiden once again.

He cleared his throat. “Does this still hurt?”

“It stopped hurting when I started drinking the wine. It is not that bad.”

“Really? There are so many cuts and bruises.”