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I wasn’t sure what I was doing when I placedher head back "Alex…"

Instead of correcting her name, she let it slide Her eyes searched mine "Aiden?"

My lips curved into a smile for her--always for her "Do you believe in love?"

"Yes," she said without hesitation "Do you?"

"I do" My hands slid to her shoulders and she shivered "I believe in love"

Thick lashes fanned her cheeks again and a grin tipped her lips "I think I a down a horde of daimons couldn’t

She bit her lip and a faint blush stained her cheeks "I feel it in here," she said, placing her hand against her chest and then against her stoh air or room inside me That I may… burst out ofI don’t knohy I feel this way, but I always have… and will" She tipped her chin up and her entire face was a rosy color "It’s you I… I love you"

Heart pounding, I swept her against le was sht I buried my face in her hair "I love you, Alex, always you"

CHAPTER 10

DETERMINATION BURNED THROUGH ME LIKE A RIGHTeous fire I had a plan--I had hope--and nothing was going to stop what I was about to do

After depositing a worn-out Alex in the bedroohtfulness filled ers and laced up what Alex referred to as " boots I smiled

I hadn’t worn the uniforlanced at myself in the mirror Freshly shaven and hair brushed back, I looked and felt like a different person The heavy weight that’d settled on my shoulders had lifted the moment I’d made up my mind

I left the bathroom, stopped by and checked on Alex, and pressed a kiss to her te downstairs It took roup of Sentinels who’d stopped in on their way east I sent the

Solos snapped at , Aiden?"

"They don’t belong here"

He stared at me as I closed the door behind the last one and stepped back "They would come in handy if Seth finds his way here, you know"

"No, they wouldn’t No one would stop hi out a Covenant dagger "Only Alex would be able to stop him"

"And is Alex in the frame of mind to stop him?"

"Not yet"

Marcus ca on?"

"Go get Lea, Luke, andat the flash of pain Blood welled quickly I placed my palm on the floor and started to draw the symbol I’d seen in Lucian’s house

Marcus sucked in a breath "Aiden, what is--?"

"Get them" I finished with the snake syht filled the hallway The walls were lu Apollo fro around ods, I hope so"

Solos still stared "Aiden has gone Raathered in the den Nervous energy surrounded Lea and Luke Only my brother seemed relaxed Perhaps he’d seen this version of eexcept Alex, and this was about Alex--this was for Alex

I stood before them "The only way for Alex to break the connection is for her to do so herself No one--no god, no iven the chance"

"Didn’t we give her the chance?" Solos asked

"Not enough," I told hi out theif he didn’t agree "But I believe in her--I have hope And hope is e need I’ her off the Elixir"

Marcus stared at me, then nodded "What does Apollo have to say about this?"

And here’s the kicker "He’s giving up, and he’s preparing himself to kill her Only one of the about"

They didn’t question what that ood idea

Lea’s eyes narrowed "He wouldn’t"

"He would And I understand why" My jaw ached saying those words "He has to protect hu up on her And if any of you have, I suggest you leave now"

No onethem ample opportunity to choose "There’s no doubt into be pissed when he realizes what I’ve done and what I plan to do If you stay here…"

The unspoken words hung in the roo else, they’d face Apollo’s wrath

Luke glanced at Deacon and smiled "Apollo kind of freaks me out, anyway"