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I woke into be a bad habit, waking in bed after nearly dying in battle But I was pretty sure I was alive

Audric was stretched besideme, Rupert snored softly, one arhted the loft as dawn brightened the sky I stretched slowly, trying not to wake theh Audric simply opened his eyes and studiedhis neck, scars that matched the claws on the hands of the succubus queen

"We survived," I said, ave ot yourself souarded you for two days"

Over his dauise, his face emotionless But his scent flowed across e-heat stirred within ed Minor Fla You commanded seraphs and the wheels of the cherub You broke the binding of a Major Darkness, saving the cherub Holy Ae," he said forreat danger"

"Of course I a up on my elbows "What else"

Beside me Rupert sat up The covers fell away and I saw that I earing an unfaown Its scooped neck had small, buttoned straps that secured my amulet necklace in place I took a moment to wonder where it came from before Rupert said to Audric and the seraph, "Tell her"

Audric sighed and sat up as well, pluleaes have the power to command seraphs in battle There have been others None have survived for long"

"Absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely?" I quoted, not liking this at all

"They were teh for their own purposes," Raziel said "They were destroyed I can save you fro-shaped ruby the size of my fist To humans it would have been priceless I was afraid of what itwithwith me as well, you will be safe The seraphs you commanded on the Trine will not touch you" I waited, and he went on "They will not destroy you, for you will not be allowed to overstep your bounds"

"You&039;ll be bound like me," Audric said His voice was carefully toneless, but his eyes held a note of warning "You&039;ll be a slave to the seraph Raziel As such, the revealer of the rock will have all the power of an Oe"

Which would move him up in seraphic hierarchy Gotcha "And if I refuse?" I asked

"You will be watched"

That didn&039;t sound so bad Long as I was a good little ht about my options as the seraph considered me "Before I decide, will you answer a question about lowing softly

"Is she alive?"

Raziel thought athe amulet to his side "She is" He added, "Rose is yet a captive"

Shock whispered through my system at his words My eyes locked to his, I said carefully, "I refuse the offer of binding and protection at this tihtly and said, "I am yours to call, now and always, as I proht flashed and he was gone

Far south, in the New Orleans Enclave, the priestess Lolo raised her head froer, she broke the circle and stilled the e took a breath, filling her lungs with the warm, moist heat of the Louisiana air "Ahhh," she breathed out

Fro sultry eddies Mage-heat drenched her, her heart fluttering painfully with the surge of want Pressure, heavier than the weight of decades, constricted her chest Outside, excited voices raced nearer, but they would not enter without her per, breathless, suddenly too weak to rise, she watched the doorway as shadows shifted Her left ar a branch of lilacs

Silver hair caught the sunrise as the seraph entered the roo her forehead, his wings draped over her and to either side for privacy "My love," he said "She caht "No," she whispered She clutched her throat, the lilac falling away

"Yes," he said, and stood, his s sun calowed red