Arrow Lake one breath, it'll just break

"i do," germanicus confirmed with a roll of commanding baritone. "that is why i would have told you long ago to stay away from the palace."

and yes, creeping tendrils of pride, demanding that he recoup even a small portion of his injured pride from beneath arsenio's tongue.

but she had been allowed to traipse there in full ignorance, and now she shared guilt with him. even if he saw no evidence of that in her now.

and it was a guilt that could have been spared.