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"It’s els had crests"

"We don’t It’sravens One that I particularly like is the oes that if you spot a raven watching you, your soul is his to claiers of death and ill will" Dorian walked further into the roo just beside me He looked up and continued, "So many people fear death when it’s just as natural as birth They’re unable to see the reseh the cloud of their sadness I am the raven and he is me--the soul stealer When spirits first see me, they realize their lives have ended and Death has co as if he realized he’d revealed et to bed We have an appoint" He turned to leave

"Dorian?"

He stopped, but didn’t turn to look atup to him, I moved around his body so I could see his face

"You said by saving me there was a price to pay What was it?" This question had nagged my mind since he told me, but I’d been a little preoccupied to ask

Dorian hesitated, finally looking up atas you live I will not be able to sense your soul or your death"

I thought about his words for a moment "But you said you tracked my soul to Jackson Square and you weren’t able to see my fate before you saved me"

Dorian took a ragged breath as if annoyed I’d found holes in his story "I had a spirit follow you when you left the restaurant, a local ghost I’ve dealt with before And the reason Amara shielded you fro into a hard line "Because I care about you I went against the nature of the universe by not allowing you to die" He laughed harshly "I just got done saying how people fear death because itI care about, I did everything in my power to ensure I didn’t" He looked away, his hand scrubbing over his face "I was shielded fros and kneould do everything I could to save you froht I did exactly what she expected It was a test and I failed Now your death will forever be a blind spot to me"

"But you can still sense my soul So I’m not completely shielded froet too far away I cannot latch onto it As soon as you’re away I lose all sensation of you"

His earlier anger made sense now If I were to leave with Aiden he wouldn’t be able to feel my soul or know if I was alive or dead The fact that he even cared that

"Dorian, I--"

He held up a hand, his lips straining to form a small smile "You know the truth now No need for explanation to console me I’m fine, and if you chose to leave with hiht, Gwen"

Chapter Sixteen

The clanging of cabinet doors woke ainst the sun streah the French doors My cat was curled up next to my chest I propped myself up and looked over the back of the couch Dorian was in the kitchen, his hair da He was dressed in worn jeans and a white t-shirt Daood, you’re up," he said, his cocky grin in place At least he wasn’t still in a bad mood

"You had a lot to do with that," I told him "What time is it?"

"Almost nine Get up, we have stuff to do today"

I pulled e of the sofa I had accidently fallen asleep in the living roo away Dorian walked into the living roo that read Café Du Monde and a tall Styrofoanets around You haven’t experienced Nawlens until you’ve tried these" He sat on the opposite couch, leaning back and resting his ankle on his bent knee I reached for the bag, opening it and sreeted net out and didn’t hesitate to take a bite, closingmy taste buds

"What do we have to do today?" I reachedreruns and thinking about Aiden and Dorian Falling asleep on the couch had put a crick in my neck By the time I fell asleep I was confident with my choice and ready to execute it

"We have an appointment at Marie Laveaus’ at ten Eat up"

I took another bite, praying the moan in my mind didn’t slip out "The voodoo shop?"

"That’s the one"