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One maid turned around so quickly her hair swung like a curtain because she absolutely could not let anyone see her face at that moment.
Another clapped both hands over her mouth and bent at the waist, her shoulders were shaking once in violent, doomed restraint.
Even Elena closed her eyes for one single breath. That was more than enough reaction from her to qualify as shock.
Lily pressed her lips together so hard her entire face changed shape under the effort of not laughing.
And Seraphiel…
Seraphiel stood there looking at Sekhmet as though she had just discovered that Eyra's son had inherited exactly the wrong kind of honesty from exactly the right parent.
For one suspended second, nobody knew whether she would laugh, strike him, or turn into moonlight and vanish to preserve what remained of divine dignity.
Then the corner of her mouth moved. Only a little. Only once.
"You are far too bold," she said.
Sekhmet's answer came without hesitation. "Someone has to be."
