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"What’s to tell? All humans die"

"No He’ll die Soon"

At first, Mary Ann could only blink over at her, certain she’d misheard Then, as the words penetrated--He’ll die Soon--they became real All the moisture in herthing "How does he know he’s going to die?"

"One of the souls inside his head is psychic A death predictor"

"Wh-when is this supposed to happen? How is it supposed to happen?"

"A knife through the heart The other, the ti…that, he doesn’t know Only that it will be soon, like I told you"

Soon What was soon, though? A day? A week? A year? And a knife through the freaking heart? Dear God An even worse way to die than froh vampire skin

Why hadn’t he told her?

"Why can’t you turn him?"

"Attempts were made to turn humans in the past None were successful"

"Can’t we--?"

"Stop it frohed without any trace of hus worse for hi a death, once it’s been predicted, does not change the outcoed, that outco"

Aden Dead Soon No! Tears burned her eyes, stinging down her cheeks "How does he live with that knowledge?" Don’t talk like that So can be done Surely

"I don’t know But I don’t think I could He is huer than I will ever be" She traced so over his heart, but Mary Ann was too far away to tell what that soh, she would say it was the sa Victoria had traced on the tabletop in the cafeteria

"And you’re sure you can’t make him a vampire?" There had to be a way to save hie doses, which would be required to turn someone, it drives hu to do the turning dies, as well, though no one knohy"

No way Aden would risk Victoria’s life That she knew "How did you becoed broken, hoarse

"I was born this way My father was the first to change, you see He was a blood-drinker, even as a hu, his hunger for everything else fading away His body no longer aging He had his most trusted men and their feed He then had his beloved pets, the wolves, drink They changed, as well, though they beca, like Riley, that you see now, able to shift into human form"

"Why can’t Aden drink that blood? What your father and his people drank?"

"He drank froone Dust in the grave"

"But if Aden drank from people…maybe…"

"That, too, has been tried That, too, has failed"

So that was it? They were supposed to give up and watch Aden die? Soon? No Absolutely not She refused There had to be a way to save hiain Please let there be a way to save hi his hands together and clai their attention He was fully dressed now His clothes rinkled, torn and bloodstained, and there were streaks of dirt on his face and arms

"It’s done," he said, and there was no emotion in his voice "No one will know a prince was killed in Aden’s ho she was okay, beforeto Aden and Victoria "How is he?"

"Better"

As if he’d heard the question, Adento the bed and crouching beside him Mary Ann latched onto his hand and squeezed

Victoria rose over him, on her knees, and patted his cheeks "Can you hear us, Aden?"

Slowly he blinked open his eyes There was a collective intake of breath as they waited…waited… He focused, though his lassy

"Victoria?" he asked groggily

"I’et you?"

He frowned, his head tilting to the side He blinked again, and his frown deepened Then he shocked everyone by snarling, "No!" grabbing Victoria by the shoulders and throwing her behind him as he popped to his knees "Don’t you dare touch her!"

Startled, Mary Ann followed the line of his gaze She saw…no one "Aden?"

"How are you still alive?" he demanded "Riley killed you I felt you die!"

"Aden?" Victoria approached hi hile" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>