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"Like daemons"

Revulsion passed over Laila’s face "Like daemons But so much more powerful"

"Why the torture? Was that part of it?"

She shook her head wildly, and Jaeden was surprised to see an al smile form on her lips "His men couldn’t break me So they tortured h Jaeden at the thought of what this frangible creature had gone through

"How did you escape?"

A cold, ferocious look froze over her face "The oldest trick in the book"

"Being?"

"One of the warlocks had an unhealthy interest in oddess

"Don’t worry," Laila assured her "They had orders not to touch us that way It could have a disturbing effect on the controls But this one" She shuddered "He would sneak in so"

"Bastard," Jaeden snarled

The witch looked startled at her veheainst hih I pretended an interest in hi I have ever had to do, and he took e and snuck me out towards the back of the camp He turned his back for a second and I knocked hiht ust "I stole his keys to his car, got a few miles away before I abandoned it and set off on foot, confusing ht Ethan would find me but he never came"

Jaeden snorted "Yeah, cos’ he was dead"

"He is dead then?" Laila queried quietly, her haunted eyes begging for an affirmative

"Caia killed him"

"She helped save me from prison and now this news It seems I will be forever in her debt"

A sense of connection threaded its way between them and Jaeden sirl is going, we’re all going to be in her debt"

The sound of the front door sla pulled them from Laila’s tale, and Ryder strolled in, an obvious look of surprise on his face at the sight of the OK?" he queried, his eyes flicking between the to ask that?" Vil hurried in now, his anxious gaze locked on Laila She s her hand out to draw hinet Jaeden huffed in amusement at the suspicious look he leveled at her and ju her arood actually" She searched his eyes, atte froood?"

"What did I miss?"

"Ryder?" she whined

"I’ll tell you if you tell roaned and pulled away from him "You’re a pain Fine Laila and I understand one another now, and I believe Caia when she says Laila is a good Midnight Who would have thought? Now tell rabbed her, whirling around the roood-" he sh pulled the, to see Reuben lounging in the doorway I here?"

"I ca, but obviously I’rinned "Jaeden’s parents are allowing the away "How nice for the to hurt her friend "I’lad you’re here I want you to be here for the cereh so much with me it would feel weird without you"

"No it wouldn’t," Ryder growled, brushing past her to stand bristling at the taller vauests are none of your business"

"I was ht after all"

Ryder scoffed, his fists curling into knots "We both knohy you’re here, you son of a bitch"

Jaeden fought an onco headache "Ryder-"

"Son of a bitch?" Reuben thrust his shoulders back in an atteone and replaced with a stony anger "I’ but hassle ot here"

"Because you’re always here!"

"I’ anywhere"

"We’ll see-"

"Guys!" she shouted, looking desperately to Laila and Vilhel quietly froht turning up all the ti"

"I cairl were OK That they weren’t causing any trouble, that’s all"