Lynette Noni

“You don’t know,” she said hoarsely. “I can’t lose him.”
Jaren reached for her face, gently wiping away her tears. “Sweetheart, I know.”

Never forget, little mouse: no two people look the same, but we are each beautiful in our own ways.

She’d want me t-to live.

And so he had. With everything within him, Tipp had lived.

Take off your shirt and lie down.”

“I’m flattered, but we barely know each other.”

So you’re the middle child,” Kiva observed. “That explains a lot.”

It’s for your hands,” she said. “You should’ve come to see me about them sooner.”

Jaren cocked his head to the side. “Is that your way of saying you missed me?”

“She hurt you.” Jaren’s eyes moved to her throat, his voice low with concern.

My name is Kiva Meridan, and I claim her sentence as my own.”

The woman you’ve sentenced is deathly ill, unable to stand on her own, let alone attempt today’s Ordeal. You’ve traveled a long way to be entertained, Princess. Rather than ask my reasons, why don’t you just sit back and enjoy the show, as intended?”

Kiva wondered if he knew who she was, if he remembered her, but then she realized he would be treating her much differently if that were true.