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"He does"

"And you like him?"

"I love him"

Sadness darkened his features "If you ever want him killed, come see me I’ll take care of it for you"

She stood there for aabout what could have been between them Not romance Never that, even without the blood tie But companionship Affection Support "Tell Kane what you told me I’m not sure he’ll show you ht let you live A part ofpeace"

He smiled sadly "I never would have forced you, you know I just wanted the chance to prove how good we could be, despite what you believed about us"

Maybe it was naive of her, but she believed that, too "Goodbye, Leopold"

He shouted as she walked away, his voice dripping with concern--that sounded like a per

Back in her bedroo soundly on the bed She reached out and reer, the key to his future, then smoothed her hands over his brow, the need to touch hi at the corners

Goodbye,cry inside her, he cracked open his eyelids "Tink Get back in bed, sweetheart Let ," she said

"Hmm"

To ensure he stayed down, she used the sa his carotid until he returned to his dreaers around his wrist, closed her eyes and drew the darkness out of hiht in the forest Before, the deeance This time, he was too weak to screaht inside her, a presence in the back of her mind

She released Kane theto take his strength, too

His features sain, so peaceful her chest ached He must have sensed, on some level, that he was now alone

No question, she’d ht decision

"I love you," she said, and kissed his teet"

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

KANE AWOKE AS sunlight poured through the open curtains He sat up with a jolt

Morning

He ju his abruptness hadn’t woken Tink But she wasn’t in the bed, he realized He quickly dressed and left the room She was probably in the breakfast nook

It was better this way, he thought He’d already said goodbye the only way he could If he were to see her now, he ht break down and cry If he told her the truth--and she would insist on the truth, and he would give it because he was unable to deny her anything--she would try and stop hi for uards and servants, he used the secret passageway to get to the garden, and as his torso burning? He stopped long enough to look under his clothes, and blinked The butterfly tattoo had faded significantly Because the deht of the new day, he felt strangely cal he was about to die He feltlighter

When he turned the corner, he saw Malcol several yards away Shock stopped hi, just like you wanted," Tink said, placing so in the warrior’s hand

Malcolm looked down at her "As thrilled as I am to have it, my deal ith Kane"

"And now it’s with me I absorbed the demon and now carry him in my body"

The Sent One frowned "You don’t look as if you carry the demon"

"That’s because he’s too weak to cause any trouble"

The conversation confused Kane He fingered the ring on his--bare skin, he realized The ring was gone

Dread slithered through hi to die, anyway," Malcolm said "Why should I help you achieve the sa to No! I won’t believe that"

"Nevertheless, it’s true"

"Butbut" She went still, as if she couldn’t even bare to breathe "He never experienced the life he dreamed ofa life free of Disaster He should kno it feels to be at peace before he dies, and I can give him that chance, even if only for a little while"

"And you’re willing to give your life for that chance? Take a moment Think about this Once it’s done, it cannot be undone"

"I have thought about it I want to do it here, now"

Malcolain is noith you" He held out his hand and a sword of fire appeared<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>