Page 59 of The Anointed's Paladin

“Yes, I can,” she said, irritated. “A king did it in one of my stories. One of you will be my wife, and the other will be my concubine.”

“Ooh. Talon shoulddefinitelybe the concubine,” said Kaine, nodding seriously. I didn’t think Nidori noticed the twinkle in his eye.

I snorted. “Sounds nice. I’d lounge around all day while you have all the responsibilities.”

“Hmm. Scratch that. Talon can be the wife,” he said with a yawn.

“So, it’s decided. Talon will help us out, and Kaine will live and marry us both,” she said, nodding.

Pain hit me like a wave, just like it had earlier as she looked at me. It pooled in my stomach and made my throat tighten.

“Nidori, I can’t,” I said, my voice sticking in my throat. “Please, just trust me. If there wasanyway I could do that, I would. But I can’t.”

“Why not?” she asked, and I almost told her. But I bit back my words. I couldn’t burden them with the knowledge I now had—that the choice was between Kaine’s death or mine.

My eyes flicked to him, and then down. “I just can’t. Sorry, little bean.”

She hugged her knees and looked down. “I’ve been keeping something from you. I’m sorry. I was hoping that it wouldn’t matter.”

Kaine lifted his head. “What’s that?”

“The people following us. They’re after me,” she said. “I ran away, and they’re trying to take me back.”

“Over my dead body,” growled Kaine.

“You’re not mad?”

I shook my head.

“You should have told me sooner.” Kaine picked her up and looked into her eyes. “Nidori, I won’t letanythinghurt you.”

Nidori wrapped her arms around his neck. “I know.”

He looked surprised, blinking down at her with sleepy eyes. “Although, we’ve probably got a very angry witch on our tail. Cassandra has ways of finding people that I’m sure she’s made use of by now.”

I rubbed my forehead. Of course.

“What about you, Talon?” Nidori asked.

“No one is following me. Doubt anyone even noticed I left.”

“Phew. I’m glad I got all that off my chest,” said Nidori. “I think I’ll be able to sleep now. After a drink.”

She kissed my cheek, and then Kaine’s, and fluttered over to the pool.

“She’s mad,” I whispered to Kaine when she was out of earshot.

“Hot, though,” Kaine said, lying back down.

I shook my head. “That makes two of you.”

“Two of us mad? Or two of us hot?” he asked, opening one eye.

“Both,” I muttered, and he grinned as I pulled the blanket back over me.

When I woke up, Kaine’s hand was touching my shoulder. I wanted to pull him close, wrap him in my arms, but I held back.

For warmth, he had said. He hadn’t asked for anything else.

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