350 LEPUS - PART 1

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…A few hours before dawn, after Carter and Dahlia left the fortress to shift…

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With the Yuletide celebrations ended, the children from Inreus soundly slumbering, and the bride and groom comfortably "put" to bed, Sterling escorted Faye back to the quiet of their own bedchamber, but not without some protest.

"I want to help the ladies clean up." She said, stopping in the middle of the hall and rooting her feet firmly in place where she stood. "As the hostess, that is one of my responsibilities, too." Faye argued to Sterling.

A deep sigh fled the Duke's nose. He did not want to fight with Faye over something so insignificant.

Plus, he had a more important matter on his mind: her last gift for Yuletide. He was anxious and worried over how she would react once she received it.