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But he hadn’t turned away for a moment He’d turned away from her forever His voice in her drea tenderness she had beco laugh escaped her

Pushing to her feet, Lindsay straightened and knew she had to get her head on straight She had to return to Raleigh, and she expected to stay there for a while She needed to get her bearings, figure out where she was going froroup, then plan for how to hunt down Vash The desire for vengeance was so pervasive she could barely think beyond it That was a blessing in a way Revenge gave her sorief

She showered and dressed When she made the bed, she found her shredded panties Whether she’d ripped them off herself in the throes of her erotic dream or Adrian had actually been with her and done it, the end result was the same--it was over between the why she didn’t just learn to stop wishing for things at all

She stepped out onto the wraparound deck, noting fro There were no angels flying; no clouds, either It was a beautiful day, the kind Southern Californians enjoyed most of the year

Lost in herdown the side of the hill to a smaller deck a few hundred yards below Fro one with the impression that they were alone in the far reaches of the native SoCal landscape

She set her elbows on the railing and began searching the contacts list on her cell phone There were so o through theso hollow and cold inside Dead

A ed shadoept over her

An angel’s shadow, followed by the rustling of feathers as the Sentinel landed behind her Feeling a desperate, futile hope that it o of it, she hesitated a second before turning to face her companion

A hand touched her shoulder

"Good an

She fell into unconsciousness before she finished the greeting

Adrian rolled into Raceport on a Harley he’d purchased just an hour before It was early afternoon Most of theUnfortunately, Raceport had one of the highest concentrations of Fallen in the country After all this time, they still hovered around Syre like h they’d all already been burned and disfigured

If he had a contingent of Sentinels with him or a pack of lycans, he’d be in aparamount, Adrian refused to involve anyone in his personal vendetta This was his battle The consequences for what he was about to do would fall on his shoulders alone

He backed his bike into a spot directly in front of the general store Syre’s office was above it, as Adrian knew froels’ Point atched It was all part of the careful dance between the shifted and un froer strapped to each thigh, and his spine tingled with the need to eels puh his veins

Before he reached the botto up to the Fallen leader’s office, Adrian knew so was off Raceport was crowded as always, due to its reputation for being a mecca for motorcycle enthusiasts frolanced twice at hi women across the street catcalled and whistled to him, it didn’t divert much attention his way If Syre had been nearby, security would be as tight as what Adrian eels’ Point

Grim faced and determined, he climbed the stairs without incident and stepped into the hallway at the top

Two shadowy figures rushed toward his in such a small space Two more came up behind him just before he reached Syre’s office He threw open the door and darted in, hearing a screaht flooded the hallway behind hi the door shut, Adrian shoved a chair beneath the knob, all without taking his eyes or his pistol barrel off the vampress seated at Syre’s desk

"Hello, Adrian," she muttered, her lips curved in a sht fell over her pale bare arlittered like tiger’s-eye, but he remembered when they’d been blue like his own

"Raven"

"He’s not here"

"I can see that"

"He’s not even in Virginia"

He lance inside

"It’s just you and me," she assured "And I have orders not to kill you"

"Ah So we’re playing by the saracefulan ultrashort denim skirt that she wouldn’t be able to bend over in without exposing herself Her top was gingha her a country-girl appearance he was sure went over ith thethe desk, she trailed the fingertips of her right hand down her left arood, Adrian Real good Having sex suits you"

He same The Fallen liked to taunt Sentinels with their sexuality It was as if they wanted to flaunt the reason for their fall, as well as goad beings known for their abstinence "Where is he?"

"What’s the rush?" She sidled closer, licking her lower lip

He whipped out his wing, forcing her to spin away to avoid getting sliced She ended up sprawled facedown atop the desk He had her hands pinned behind her back before she could retaliate

Bending over her, he hissed in her ear, "Where is he?"

"You don’t have to"He wants me to tell you"

Adrian knehy His stomach knotted "He’s on his way to California"