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Cold sucked at his bones.
Even with the heavy cloak covering his body, he could not escape the chill. Within it, he shivered through all his efforts to remain perfectly still. A scrap to his left almost startled him, even though this might be who he waited to meet.
A moment he waited, and just before the time was up, slow and light steps approached him. "Makai?" she whispered.
"Yep," he whispered back, pulling back the cloak. She settled down next to him, her fragrant hair tantalizing his nose. "Followed?"
"Only for a block. I lost them in the tavern."
"Good, you learn quick, m'lady." She turned to look into his eyes, probably to see his sincerity. He smiled back at her, noting the sadness in her eyes. "What's wrong?"
She remained quiet.
"Rose, you can tell me," he gently pressed. Her strong pout told him that he'd pressed too far already. So he kissed her cheek and let her muse her way out of whatever it was that troubled her.
Finally, she ask, "Is there someone else?"
"Huh?" he asked, startled by the question.
"Are you in love with another woman?"
"Rose...."
"I knew it!"
He took a breath and answered, "No, I am not. There is no one besides you."
"Fine, if you won't tell me, I'll leave you two together." Rose slipped out from under the cloak and stalked away.
Makai just sat there in shock. What brought this on?, he wondered. He heard her scream. Before he knew it, he'd leaped to his feet and was sprinting in the direction she'd gone.
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