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Aden returned his attention to the witch But unlike when he’d been in Shannon’s mind, he didn’t see scenes from her life He saw…boxes? There were thousands of the a thick silver lock

He frowned as he claers, and an electric shock tore through hi "What would cause such a reaction?"

Wards, Caleb said, and he’d never sounded more confident She has wards of her own Her ainst invaders

"How do you know?" Aden asked

Don’t know Just do

Well, Aden needed inside the, so what--or which--wards did she have and how, exactly, did they protect her mind? There was only one way to find out

He searched the rooainst the door "I need you to leave," he said

The wolf shook his head "That would be--"

"The right thing to do," he interrupted "She’s warded, so I can’t reach her memories Therefore we have to see ards she has, and I don’t think she’d want a guy looking"

Oh, no, Caleb said You’re not stripping her down

Usually, Caleb was the one begging for a peep show "We’ll work around her clothes, okay?"

"If I’one," Riley said, "I won’t be able to protect you"

"Don’t care Go" He pointed to the exit

"Fine But if she so and rips at your mind, I can’t be blamed" The shifter threw open the door, stomped out and kicked it shut behind him

"If that happened, you wouldn’t be able to help me anyway," Aden called "Victoria, you look the body over"

"Yes" She glided to hiraceful as a ballet dancer

Aden closed his eyes One piece at a ti At first, her ered

"I’ve never studied a witch this intently," she said, voice heavy "Usually I avoid them I don’t knohy Your scent…"

"Bad?"

"No" She’d finished her search, but her grip tightened on his arnized that tone It was the sa at hi at his veins

Red alert, Elijah suddenly announced

"I know" Aden opened his eyes and tugged from her He rushed to the far end of the empty room When she attempted to follow, he shook his head "Stay there"

Her eyes were glazed, her fangs longer than ever before "Just one taste," she pleaded "I’ll ood You’ll like it"

"Riley," he called

The wolf entered the rooone far "Decide you needed ht…problem" Victoria had crouched, ready to leap

"What--" Riley noticed and grabbed her by the waist, holding her in place "Oh, no, you don’t" She struggled against his of blood in the other room She’ll feed and she’ll be fine We’ll be back," he said, and hefted her out the door

Severalhe could be the one to feed her, the one who calmed her But he wasn’t ready to leave the witch’s body, and Victoria couldn’t be allowed to drink from the witch He remembered what she’d said about the allure of the witches, how addicting their blood was, and he didn’t like the thought of her strung out like a drug user<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>