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He tossed a second dagger, but didn’t stick around to make sure it succeeded where the first one had failed He hopped to the ground, ran off the road and into the forest with Tink bouncing on his shoulder He tried to be gentle, but gentle wasn’t possible Thick trees surrounded hih the leaves and li his next move

"I’ll take care of the Phoenix," he vowed to Tink While he ht not be able to do much for her before he left Séduire, he could do that

He found tracks created by the palace guard, the i theed places where the Phoenix had burned a bush or a plant or a patch of grass But what he didn’t see were iirl

Could she be on her own? Si it seem like others ith her?

Thatmade sense, he realized She had to think an army of Phoenix would intiive up Tink to save their land from war

Not on my watch He burst from the shield of the forest, turned a corner and made it to the cobbled path that led to the palace Of course, the first person Kane spotted was Leopold, leading a contingent of ar to pay," the prince vowed

"You can try to hurt

Blue eyes fell on Tink and flared with concern, the rage completely obliterated "What happened? What did you do to her?" The prince waved the guards away The moment Kane ithin reach, he snapped, "Give her to h crazed fury in Kane’s tone to startle the man Wisely, the prince backed off Kane barreled past him, past the double doors, and shouted, "I want a doctor sent topace "She absorbed the abilities of someone, didn’t she? No, no need to deny it I know her She did I also know one of our doctors wouldn’t be able to help her Not with sonored hi up the steps and into his own bedroom He kicked the fancy, impractical cover away and eased her atop the mattress She was still too quiet

His hand trembled as he smoothed the hair fro several of the strands to stick Her cheeks were fever-bright

The prince approached the other side of the bed "I could have you arrested for what you did to me, and what you allowed to happen to the princess’s blood slave"

"I plan to leave as soon as she’s healed If you wantyour father, taking over the kingdoain" Actually, that wasn’t a bad plan It was quick and easy and effective--but itwith someone other than Tink "If not, you’ll shut your mouth"

The prince shut his mouth

Kane hated that a doctor couldn’t help her, hated that only time would heal this woman who’d snuck past his defenses--if there was even a cure But he hated the feeling of helplessnessfor her to awakenor die

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

JOSEPHINA TUMBLED THROUGH a world of darkness, every corner offering a new chaony here The worst kind of silence there Big, fat insects everywhere, buzzing around her, biting at her Pangs of the , gnawing at her insides And rage, so ht someone, anyone Wanted to conquer and destroy But how could she do either? She was conquered herself, already destroyed

Her blood was molten, liquid flame Her throat hurt, as if it had been scraped raith a blade Did she have any skin left? She felt peeledexposed to the world

"Kane," she tried to shout, but no sound eed

Where was he? Where was she? What had happened to her?

Me a sword, beheading a de She watched a winged fe in her veins Deathdeathall around her Pain, suffering, regret More than even a legion could bear<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>