Chapter 66: Sitting on the tree

CRACK! 4

Mallory's eyes widened, her heart leaping almost to her throat at the sound of the branch internally breaking. Then, with a final snap under the pressure of Hadeon's legs, it gave way completely, sending him gracefully leaping onto another branch. She could already sense her own impending fall to the ground.

Hadeon eventually landed on the branch of the tree where Mallory sat, causing it to dip slightly before rebounding as he approached her.

"I placed you on the sturdiest branch around, just in case the others couldn't bear your weight," Hadeon explained, settling down beside her.15

"Thank you for your consideration," Mallory expressed her gratitude before adding, "But honestly, you didn't have to come here. We could have talked from a distance."

"And I told you it was too far," Hadeon replied, retrieving a cigar.8

"Can I have one?" Mallory asked. Had it been any other man, she might have ......