Page 41 of The Spider Queen

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It was a compliment.

How do you know I’m not like most women? Have you had other women owners?

You’re not my owner,he snapped.

Touchy, touchy.

I felt Thane contract into himself.I’m sorry. I don’t think of myself as your owner. You’re not a pet. But I don’t know what to call you. There’s no word to define what the hell this is. You’re a spider. I’m a human. You say you’re not dead, but you’re petrified and look pretty dead to me.

Valid point, human.

Rolling my eyes, I replied.Am I forgiven, spider?

Yes.

Good. Fighting is exhausting.

Agreed.

I’m getting a beer and then I’m coming back in here and I’m going to ask you twenty questions.

About?

You. I’m going to badger you until you answer my questions.

I’ll be here.

Where else would you go?

I have ways.

Yeah?

Not telling you.

Damn that gentle amusement. It got me every time.

Are you really one of a kind?

Yes.

Can anyone hear you?

A select few. Don’t bother asking who. Next question, Poppy.

Can you breathe underwater?

Pause.In a sense. Yes.

So I didn’t kill you when I threw you into the lake?

No.

Are you dead?

No.

Are you alive?

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