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"You’re already invested, baby," he argued "Or you wouldn’t be worried about trouble ahead"

Her lips pursed "Hth your whole life I was happy about that when you were younger, and later on I figured if your dates orth anything, it wouldn’t be so easy to cut the Adrian out isn’t easy, is it?"

"Dad, can you please not psychoanalyze ain"

"That’s why I called I’htened on the steering wheel For aIt wasn’t all good She was surprised and scared, dismayed and hurt, happy and excited

"Lindsay?"

"Yeah, Dad" Her voice was too husky She cleared her throat "Who’s the lucky lady?"

"A new custoed her oil"

"I like her already She’s obviously shed "Are you sure you’re okay with this?"

"Totally," she fibbed "I’d be ood tiot you for your birthday"

"Okay, okay Got it: Go Have fun And don’t dress like a buive Adrian a shot A real one"

She groaned "You don’t understand"

"Listen," her dad said in his no-nonsense voice "Adrian Mitchell is a big boy He can take care of himself If he doesn’t see a problem, don’t make one You deserve to be happy, Linds, and no relationship is risk-free I’ain But you--you’ve never jue"

"I love you, Daddy, but the ood"

"I’ll want a rundown tomorrow," she warned

"As if I kiss and tell Talk to you later"

Hitting the END button, she looked at Elijah, whohiht she’d be happy about that She was--mostly But there was a part of her--an admittedly childish part of her--that felt as if her dad was leaving herLindsay still couldn’t do

"You’re close to your sire," Elijah noted

"We’re all the other one has, if that , he said, "Explains why Adrian has lycans guarding hias pedal "What? Why?"

"Adrian assigned lycans to watch your father I didn’t knohy Now I do He’s doing it for you, because your sire is ias"

Lindsay pushed harder on the gas, thinking it would be better not to be behind the wheel at the uards?"

"Anyone iainst hiet to Adrian "If so ever happened--"

"Don’t worry" Elijah offered a reassuring sested the best of the pack They’ll keep hiht have kissed hi "Thank you"

"You’re welcome You should thank Adrian, too"

"Yes," she said softly, her heart softening further Adrian’s fall wasn’t the immediate concern; it was her own fall that was i’s ato the Point to begin with "Do you knohat happened to your friend? Why he was ?"

"He was ambushed and left for dead It took hihhere he was found"

"Jesus," she breathed "Was it vaestured for her to turn left up ahead

"Fuckers I want to kill them all" Even as Lindsay said the words, the depth of hatred in theed soher friends, and they were responsible forit iood reason for the, worthless, bloodsucking parasites that were better off extinct

She pulled up to the wrought-iron gate and gatehouse that protected the Point The guard took one look at Elijah and let theh in the sky, affording her the opportunity to check out all she’d ate The wolves stayed on the other side of a rise in the road, keeping themselves hidden fro the native landscape Soaround the circular driveway, she parked She tried to expel some of her tension with a swift, audible exhalation

Elijah was out of the car in a controlled yet powerful rush ofher door before she had released her seatbelt He waited until she cli set atop a hill about a half rabbing your things, or wait for me here If I’ll be ht his arm before he turned away

He stared down at her hand, which she pulled back quickly "Sorry I didn’t mean to put my scent on you I just--I’aze lifted to hers and his features softened "I know you are Thank you"

"If you need anything, I’ smile, then headed toward the double-door entrance She’d just lifted her hand to knock when the door opened

"Ms Gibson"

A tall, sinewy redhead filled the doorway His hair was long, hanging past his shoulders, but there was nothing effe warrior of old, grim faced and resolute

Lindsay hesitated "Hi I just need to grab et out of your way"

He stared at her for a ested he found her lacking Then he gestured her in