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The warm fire couldn’t compare with the warmth Lu felt inside. Chiza talked less and less of her preparation as one of the chosen and more and more of her own dreams and wishes. Lu didn’t know what it would mean for him, but he braced himself to do something he’d never considered before.
He’d found a small white flower and tucked it away. Now he pulled it out of his pouch. Temi growled at him and shook his head around, pawing at the ground.
“Go on, there’s no reason to be jealous, my friend, this is for the lady.” He held the flower between his finger and thumb and tucked it behind Chiza’s right ear. The contrast between the flower and her ebony skin and black hair was stunning. He started to tell her so, but his hand itched.
“Oh no, what’s the matter with your hand?” Chiza asked. S
