“You were different to me,” he finally murmurs. “I wonder what could have been, if all this”—I gesture to the palace and the Square beyond—“wasn’t between us.” Let him chew on that. He puts a hand on my arm, his fingers hot through the fabric of my sleeve. “But that can never be, Cal.” I force as much longing as I can into my eyes, relying on the memory of my family, Maven, Kilorn, all the things we’re trying to do. Maybe Cal will mistake my feelings. Give him hope where none should be. It’s the cruelest thing I can do, but for the cause, for my friends, for my life, I will. “Mare,” he
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