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"How can I trust you?"

"Do you have any other choice?"

God, she wished Riley was here to tell her whether or not fairies kept their pro?"

Triumph replaced the fairy’s frustration "I cannot force the to order"

At least she’d been honest About that "All right I’ll help you" After that…

THIRTY

THE KISS ON THE COUCH, when he’d tasted blood It hadn’t been his own, Aden realized now It had been Victoria’s She’d given him several drops--accidentally? purposely?--but that had been enough Noas inside her head, hearing her thoughts, seeing the world through her eyes Feeling her pain

And oh, was she in pain There was a burn in her chest, directly over her heartbeat, as if the skin had been singed away She barely seeaze cutting through the darkness They were in the woods, wolves and goblins fighting all around theroans of agony

"--found hi "He’s in a cave, an entire state away"

Riley swiped at the blood dripping from his hairline "I know We can feel hioblins is taken care of Otherwise, they’ll hunt humans"

"Well, I need a few of your men to follow ather as many vaet the wolves and the vampires, but you aren’t to enter the cave alone"

Stubborn As always "I can oblin racing past by the neck, swooped down and bit, hard, sucking hie as she sed that last drop of blood Goblins’ blood always tasted like bile "You’ll just slow me down, and Aden could be…hurt"

"You’ll be distracted by the witches, Victoria" Riley’s gaze was pointed "You know you will You’ll do ood"

No She wouldn’t Aden was priority one "As you just saw, I ate I’ precious time I’m only here to tell you not to let your wolves or the vampires inside the cave while I’ Okay? They are only to fight the witches outside"

Now he frowned, suspicion dancing in his eyes "Why? What will they ruin? What are you planning?"

What’s necessary She didn’t say the words aloud

"And anyway, I need you to listen to me Your father--"

Is dead She already knew "Goodbye, Riley," she said, and rose on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek Then, before the shape-shifter could grab her, she teleported The ground abandoned her feet, wind rustled her hair and she spun…spun…darkness closing in, sounds fading away When she reached her new destination, the darkness gave way to bea breaths disrupted the quiet

Suddenly, Aden was looking at himself

"Aden" Her voice stroked his ears "Aden Wake up"

A sharp sting lanced his cheek, then another, as he watched Victoria slap him Slowly he blinked open his eyes The cave seeain, once, twice, his own i its place

She was here With him "Leave," he croaked If they found her… "Now"

"Shhh" She tugged at the ivy around his wrists, but when she cut one vine, another quickly grew in its place "Was thecalled to order?"

"No" The adht The true countdown has begun" Still she tugged and clawed "They kept us busy or I would have been here sooner"

"Leave et the witches to return to me That’s the only way"

"No I won’t If I don’t do this now, I may not…I may…"

Be dead, he finished for her

"And you’ll be stuck," she whispered, still chopping at the vines "I can’t allow that"

He couldn’t fail He couldn’t Wouldn’t "Do you knohere the witches are?"

What are you planning? Caleb asked, speaking up for the first tinored him When it came to the witches, the soul had no objectivity

With a screech of frustration, Victoria grabbed the vine, pulled herself up and slashed the root with her teeth Aden’s arround

"The witches?" he pro back into his shoulders

You’re not thinking about hurting them, are you? Caleb demanded

And if he is? Irritation pulsed from Julian What if it’s thean, only to be interrupted