“Reuel, my lady.”
“Reuel. I shall… remember,” she whispered. She would not make that mistake again. “You will not find me… ungrateful.” Again the unendurable pleasure gusted up through her as she saw his thin swarthy face go foolish and soft with a sudden, incredible hope. She murmured, “I often walk in the courtyard here. Will you protect me?”
“With… with my very life, Lady.” he stammered, and she looked at him and smiled. With him the terror need not strike till she had fed on the desire for a day or two, and the fear, and the hope… till she had fed herself full. Now that she knew her power, she could wait for her pleasure.
She smiled, with the drunken joy of a woman who has discovered true love, and ran lightly up the stairway toward her chamber.
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