He was crouching on the balls of his feet, watching her approach. “They let you go?” His gaze fell on the cakes and ranmyas clutched in her hands. “Not intentionally.” An alarm bell clanged at the fort, and Amaranthe winced. “In fact, we should leave. Now.” They ran down the slope and onto the lake trail. “What were you doing?” she asked. “Waiting for nightfall so I could retrieve you.” “Really? Like a rescue operation?” Touched, she smiled at him. “Is it possible the stodgy, emotionless assassin has perhaps grown to care about me?” “You are needed to implement the final phase of the plan.”
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