-"I don't know what to say."
I bowed low, till my forehead pressed our joined hands.
-"I'm honored and humbled. And scared. The beast inside me killed and in doing so, I broke the law."
Karrin's brow scrunched up.
-"You fool, that wasn't a crime, only self defense."
She looked downwards, were my hands were shaking.
-"There are laws for magic. Thou shalt not kill."
Nonsense.
-"It means not using magic to snuff out life. And Wardens, magical cops, are big on the letter of the law. I already killed in self defense as a child, that is when Ancient Mai took me in."
-"That's bullshit. What they expect? To kneel before the criminal scum and just let them toy with you?"
At long last, someone with common sense.
-"I need to inform the local Warden."
I closed my eyes and kissed her hands.
-"It isn't fair."
My hands reached out and caressed her face.
-"Not now. Not now that I know how much I'm needed."
A small hand touched my cheek and I leant into it.
-"Life seldom is."
Her other hand took hold of my chin.
-"You are not alone. I'm here."
My handcuffed arms encircled her and I pressed our foreheads together.
-"Do you want to date a felon?"
My eyes were closed, yet her unladylike snort was unmistakable.
-"I was married to a cop twice. Maybe I need a bad boy in my life."