Page 51 (2/2)

"Please, Aden" Utter fear layered her voice

"Move away fro to hurt ain, he hoped No matter what, he didn’t want her in the crosshairs

A moment passed in suspended silence before her hands fell away and the heat of her left him Without another word, Aden forced his heavy, puncture-infested legs to move his flapping The othersa wall of fury and ? Julian de, Elijah stated I don’t knohat you should do anymore And I don’t like it I don’t like this

Still Aden forged ahead "I was right," he said gently "You were protecting me, weren’t you?" No reply

Could they understand hi?"

The one in front tucked those deadly wings away and crouched down, placing his face inches froe black nostrils That dripping ed Aden’s arm

For a moment, fear petrified him Then he realized there were no new injuries on his Then realization set in "You want ain, no reply, but Aden reached out Even though he was alht, his hand shook He flattened his pal of teeth, a wound, a torrent of pain and the loss of a limb, he received a purr of approval from the beast

The others cloainst the floor as they settled at Aden’s feet, seeking his touch

"I don’t understand this," he whispered

Me, either Julian, du peacock

I never saw this co Elijah, awed

Why did the creatures like him? Why had they protected him from the very people they lived inside? It made no sense

All he could think was that they e vibration he eoblins to Crossroads Those creatures hated the pull, though That’s why the witches had called theirTo decide what to do with him That’s why Thomas and then Brendal had come to the ranch: to save themselves and "their" huentle as she attempted to return to his side

Several of the beasts hissed and snapped at her

"No," Aden told the "She’s a friend" He didn’t knohat he expected the ad His arave them, even as he said, "Victoria, approach us slowly" He couldn’t allow these beasts to threaten or hurt her in any way Ever

He could hear the soft fall of her footsteps Again the creatures hissed and snapped Their bodies stiffened, scales rising, al for attack

"Stop," Aden told her and the beasts

The footsteps ceased The beasts calmed

"Another step"

She obeyed, and ain, she obeyed Again, the beasts calain another time These monsters just weren’t ready to accept anyone else, not that he could tell, and he wouldn’t be able to hold theet the

"They’re solid now," she told hio back"

Ever? "Can they, though?"

"Yes, but I’ve only seen a return once Usually the vampire hosts are dead by the time the beasts reach this point"

"Are the councilmen…"

"No They’re alive," she said "In pain, bones broken, but alive They’ll heal"

Aden peered into the eyes of the monster in front of him "I need you to return to where you ca about, scaring people Eating people<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>