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"The point," she said, ju is set in stone just yet, and I don’t want you lost for eternity to flaer and desperation in her voice Whatever she’d foreseen had been bad, and fear again stepped through me I half reached out to her, but Tao beat ed her into a hug that was as fierce as his expression was alarmed

"I’m sorry," he whispered "I pro better" She returned his hug for a oing to prepare you the world’s biggest steak sandwich, and you will consu inch of it"

"Proave me a weak smile, then headed out

I waited until she’d left, then et loose?"

He half shrugged "Oneoutside to cool down; the next I’ just how close I’d co my best friend"

"But you didn’t" I dropped down into the seat, then raised my hand "See, not even the sers for a moment, then said, "I could hear you, you know, but I couldn’t do anything Not until you caught ht--touch was the key to breaking the elemental’s control "I knew you wouldn’t hurt me, Tao"

"But I did, and we both know it" He took a deep, somewhat unsteady breath and released it slowly "I think I’ll remember your scream for the rest of , that I’ll fight this thing" His gaze met mine "It hates you, Ris A witch created it to kill you, and the minute you spoke to it out there in the field, that’s all it wanted to do"

"What it wanted was to return to the fire that created it"

"Priain, don’t confront it Because next time, I may not be able to stop it"

"Then, as Ilianna so politely put it, make sure there isn’t a next time" I rose to my feet, then leaned over and dropped a kiss on his cheek "Get better I have to go hunt a dark spirit"

"Hunter’s still on your case, huh?"

"Yeah You rest up, and et back"

"I’ll look forward to it"

I wouldn’t--if only because in order to tell a story about hunting a dark spirit, I’d actually have to do it I headed out to the kitchen The s steak filled the air, and I took a deep breath, savoring the delicious aro one of those forplates of buttered toast "I’rinned as I ploppedon a date with a stallion tonight, so miracles can definitely happen"

She snorted "Not twice in one day, they won’t" She studied me for a minute "Did you sort out your shit with Azriel?"

"No, because he isn’t around"

"He’s always around, and you know it"

"That’s not the point"

"Then what is? The fact that you’re scared of your own feelings?"

"Ilianna, stop, okay?"

She sighed "Between you and Tao, I’ray before my time"

I frowned "Why? What have you seen?"

She hesitated "Nothing"

"Yeah, like that sounded so convincing" I studied her for a minute "So what, exactly, did you see in Tao’s future?"

"Nothing Nothing but flames" She stared atto lose hi not I forced a sames She’s just as likely to do the opposite of what you fear"

"God, I hope you’re right" She poked the steak with a stiffened finger, then picked it up on a fork, slapped it onto a piece of toast, and handed it to ot to check out a fewa dark spirit"

Ilianna’s eyebrows rose "Museums? You?"

I waved a hand "Don’t worry I’ for the next key"

"Do you want help?"

"No" Especially given what had happened last tier of losing Tao I wasn’t about to risk losing Ilianna as well I slapped the second piece of toast over the steak, then grabbed the sandwich one-handed and got off the counter "If I don’t see you before tonight, enjoy your date"

She snorted "The only way that’ll happen is if I get totally plastered first And I’ve prole" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>