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It was their secret—a secret she’d trusted he’d never tell. The first time it happened, he hadn’t known what to do. He only knew that he couldn’t ignore it. And, every time it happened, his heart would ache at the sight of her—the Great and Terrible Evil Queen hugging her knees to her chest, slowly rocking herself as soft whimpers escaped her. Sitting at her side, his arms folded around her, holding her and soothing her until the demons of her past faded back into her memory. “Hey,” he’d whisper gently. “Calm down. They can’t hurt you anymore.”