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"Yes," I answered, unable to help ether for thousands of years You don’t belong here"

He laughed his rich, husky laugh and I realized that he thought I was joking

"I think I would remember that, would I not?" he asked, with his chocolate eyes twinkling

A part ofno faaze I shook ain

"Sweet Eris, we should invite your friends in for the night The Chiet waylaid by one"

Eris shook her head slowly, a s the corner of her lip "No, that would indeed be tragic, dear Cadmus"

I couldn’t help but think of the Chioat and part snake It had two heads one lion, one goat Its tail was a snake and both ends could breathe fire It flew in the blackness of night with the wings of a dragon and it wailed a horrific shrieking wail that could literally curl your toes Thank god they were rare But still They were out there soht, which meant that we shouldn’t be if we could help it I hated to take shelter here, but at the saive me more time with Cadmus

I nodded "Thank you, dear friend," I erateful for your shelter" I aled to spit therinned "Wonderful Any friend of Eris’ is a friend of mine I will see to your rooms"

He pushed off of the couch and strode fro walk I watched his broad shoulders disappear through the doorway before I turned to Eris once more

"What did you do?" I hissed

"As if I would tell you," she purred Her satisfaction was blatantly obvious and I worked to temper my own reactions There was no need to make her rejoice even more in my despair I felt Ortrera step forward fro our horses," she murmured to me "I shall stay inside with you"

I nodded mutely while Cadmus reentered His face was so beautiful, his dark hair curling slightly around the nape of his neck I needed to feel hiers, kiss his soft lips

But I couldn’t Yet I sed hard

"Your rooms are ready," he announced "If you would co, Cadain shortly"

He nodded, sed Need him for what? I tried not to think about it as I followedhall to the bedchambers

He opened one heavy door "This will be yours," he said to Ortrera "Aphrodite, you will be across the hall And Harmonia, you will be here"

He opened the door to my room and I walked swiftly past him into the roo you need," he said quietly "If you need so else, just let one of us know" He turned to walk out

"Cadan And he turned

"Yes?" His dimples appeared as he s down for a

"Um I would like to bathe before bed Could you point me into the direction of a bath?" I shot a weak s else It wasn’t the time I could feel it

"Of course I ‘m sure you are tired," he sht Make yourself at home"

He turned to leave and this ti the bed and sobbed with my face pressed into a pillow to muffle the noise I had been so worried about his safety--so scared that Eris would harined that she would take him from me She had taken Derek to toy with me And that had been child’s play for her Derek had been so easy for her to win over But this to steal a soul mate She had to have had help Very powerful help But what?

I felt a cool hand onJade slide onto the bed next to me Her expression was e me up next to her as she stroked the hair from my brow

"Shh," she soothed "I know it is hard noeetling But this isn’t forever We will get to the bottoain be yours"

I cried even harder as she mure that he ith Eris at this very od only knohat it was too difficult to bear I cried silently for a while longer while Jade strokedand red by the time I was finished I sat up and wiped at them impatiently

"I’ht I just feel so alone without him"

"You aren’t alone," she assured me "I am here Ortrera and her warriors are here And ill fix this atrocity All of it"