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“And now Cedric knows that you're with me; and the Solstice, the date he really wanted you for is coming up fast.” I exhaled heavily though my teeth, and coughed suddenly, producing a disturbing red stain in my handkerchief. Both the twin winced, and buried their faces in my collar bone. I couldn't think of anything to do to save them. If I had been well; and if Cedric would only attempt magical means to reclaim them; I might have had a chance. But I wasn't, and Cedric had things that I didn't; he wouldn't need to raise a scrap of magical energy to destroy me.
Cedric had power, both as a Lord in his own lands, and in conventional government. He had money and he had influence. By comparison, the good reputation I enjoyed with the public of the city was nothing, and I had no legal rights to defend them. But that didn't matter, because I would. Somehow.

I woke up the next morning the same way I had fallen asleep, bracketed by the twins, half propped against the headboard. It hurt to move, but I forced myself up, settling them back down under the blankets while I dressed. An unfamiliar pain wracked my lower chest, making it hard to move. I took a a double dose of pain killers, and left before I started feeling light headed.

Incidentally; I don't recommend taking any drug that makes your pupils dilate, and then going in front of stage lights if you can avoid it.