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"I said make yourself useful, not cataclyse that Laylah was somewhere in the trees and that she could easily have been harmed

"Hey, I do not critique your battle techniques," the tiny gargoyle protested

The ridiculous squabble was brought to a thankful end as Laylah appeared behind therimaced at the protective ward that surrounded the baby Despite being transparent it visibly shifted, distorting and obscuring the ie of the child He doubted even Laylah had ever had a clear viehat she was carrying around

Not that she seeive a damn

His heart clenched with an odd ache as her expression softened and she cradled the baby against her with maternal care

Her short, crirass stains And there was a streak of dirt on her cheek

And she’d never looked more content

Unaware of his fascination, she lifted her head, the tender expression hardened as she glanced toward the charred trees decorated with bits and pieces of Sylvermysts

"Gods" She shuddered "Where did they coaze taking a cautious inventory of the child in her arms

He wasn’t as stupid as he looked

Tane couldn’t sense the stasis spell that bound the baby, but he ise enough to give it a wide berth

"I don’t knohere they ca with"

"Marika?" she asked

"And theto turn hi"

She shook her head "No, we have to get out of here"

Tane e

"Levet, keep watch," he ordered, his narrowed glance warning he wouldn’t take "no" for an answer

Perhaps sensing Tane’s hidden ave a ready nod

"Oui"

Hein her heels and narrowed her gaze The gargoyle wasn’t the only one to guess his motive "Don’t even think about it"

He held her furious gaze "Laylah, you must shadoalk"

"And leave you and Levet here to die?" "Your faith in ," he said wryly

"You’re surrounded, outnue," she said without apology "What do you think your odds are?"

"They would be considerably better if you weren’t here"

She winced at his brutal honesty "What?" she muttered "I pricked your pride now you have to insulthis arms over his chest He refused to back down

He couldn’t force Laylah to obey him, but he was happy to use whatever emotional blackmail necessary

"Think, Laylah Your aunt and her horde froone she won’t have any reason to continue her attack"

She frowned "You can’t be certain"

"Marika’s crazy, not stupid"

"What does thatto risk her warriors on a bunch of wood sprites and a vaht her bottom lip between her teeth, unable to deny the truth of his words

"I … I can’t"

"You have no choice," he ruthlessly pressed "You claimed the child as your own Now you htened as a battle between loyalties raged inside her At last, her fierce need to protect the innocent child in her arms overwhel back as she prepared to enter the h hi forward to kiss her with a stark promise

"Laylah," he whispered, careful to avoid contact with the child in her arms

"What?"

"Don’t think this is over" He pulled back, his face hard with resolve "I’ll find you"

She et yourself killed …" "Go"