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Laylah halted, turning to aze with a lift of her brows

"Obviously, the saot in"

"We barely survived the entry," he gritted "Are you certain the exit won’t be worse?"

"We barely survived because I had an unwelcoer I don’t intend to have onto dangerous slits "You can’t abandon ed, her chin tilted to a defiant angle As if she weren’t facing down one of the most lethal demons in the entire world "I certainly didn’t invite you to co for the trip You can find your oay ho"

The chin went up another inch "It wasn’tthe gargoyle sleeping in her arms "I would be trapped"

"So what?" The dark eyes se "You intend to have me executed Why the hell shouldn’t I leave you here to rot?"

His brooding gaze swept over her fragile features and the weariness she couldn’t entirely disguise He wasn’t about to confess that he’d followed her for farher over to the Oracles

She had enough weapons to wield against hirih his body

"The Coht to the to say that they won’t decide you’re not a danger and release you"

"Yeah right" Her sharp laugh was oddly"I suppose you also have some Bernie Madoff stock you want ether "What?"

"I’et their nasty hands on ood"

"Very dramatic, but I can promise you that the Commission has far more important matters to concentrate on than a stray half-breed"

His thumb absently stroked over the lush fullness of her lower lip, his body throbbing in tempo with her rapid heartbeat

"What rimaced He left demon politics to Styx Why stab so to stab thenored the gathering tension

So to head it off

"The private discussions are above rade, but there’s no secret that the Oracles have been gathered in Styx’s foro for weeks," he said

"And what does that prove?" She jerked away from his touch, as if he’d scalded her "That they’re a bunch of freeloaders who overstay their welcoe to wrap her into his arms and drink deeply of her passionate nature or to shake so as he ht find her fire and brimstone the Commission wouldn’t be even a little amused by her lack of respect

"They’re not a fraternity who like to hang out and play Wii together," he said, saving his lecture on treating the Commission with the proper reverence for later Did he really want to point out just how dangerous the teet out of the da? "Each of the Oracles are powerful demons of different species, some of them mortal enemies who are forced to play nice when they s But they never linger a second longer than necessary"

"Which only "

Unable to deny her accusation, he smoothly slid into diversion mode

Any warrior knew that a timely distraction was as effective as a full out attack

"If they didn’t lynch Cezar then you should be safe enough," he said with a shrug

She aardly shifted the sleeping gargoyle still clutched in her arms

"Who is Cezar?"

"A brother of h to mate the newest Oracle"

"There’s another one? Perfect" She glared at him as if it were entirely his fault that Anna had been revealed as the latest Oracle a feeeks before "You’re just overfloith good news"

"A new Oracle is always a sign of co trouble"

"Like a ri hero, nor did he subscribe to the theory it was thrilling to "live in interesting times" He did his duty and returned to the privacy of his lair where he could indulge his various hungers and forget his past The sense of loonore, preferring the ostrich approach But now … now he couldn’t entirely shake the disturbing pre bad future And that an unseen hunter was stalking her A thought that sent a shocking bolt of fury through him "Believetheir tor arded him with blatant suspicion "If I’ to chase ut as he slid a lingering glance down her slender body

"Do I need to reer to do so"

The pulse at the base of her throat fluttered in response

"I don’t doubt you’re always eager"

He s pulse

"There are tier than others"