QUOTE : I opened up to him. Really. And he treated me like shit,” she slurred. “But he also treated me like a queen.” Her bottom lip trembled, and she dragged an arm over her eyes. Somehow her mascara wasn’t running or smudged still. “Why did he treat me like a queen, Cerys?”<br />I swilled the wine in my flagon. “Because he saw his equal in you. Someone he would protect with everything he had. Forever.”<br />She sniffed. “And why did he treat me like shit?”<br />“Because he saw his equal in you. Someone he would protect with everything he had. Forever. And he was afraid he wouldn’t succeed against the people looking to tear you both down.