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"They die every day Your lives are ood alive than you do dead" Cassie stared at him in surprised disbelief, she felt as if she had been slapped She could not believe that he had just said that "I’m sorry to sound cruel, but it’s true If you are killed, then evenbefore cos that we do not want to in life"

Cassie took a step toward hi that I don’t want to do every single day! I did not ask for this, but I will not run fro, if you wish to flee then do so, but I will not!"

Pain and anger flared through Luther’s gray eyes, lasses "I do not wish to flee! It is the best for you My only charge in life is to see that you are prepared to fight, and to keep you safe"

Cassie’s anger uish and hurt "You cannot keep us safe forever, it’s not possible You have done your best to train us Luther; you have to have faith in that"

He glanced at their deterlasses, his hands fisted tightly at his sides Heaving a sigh, his set shoulders slu alone anyether, and youoff on your own Also, I want to know every tiht" He turned to Melissa, his eyes intense and fierce "Have you had any prelanced over them quickly, her dark eyes sad and distant "No"

"Have you had any lately?"

She shook her head "Nothing to do with vaht, and I know that to to announce the noratulations by the way," she added with a wary smile at Cassie

Cassie lifted her eyebrows, but refrained fro, or being queen Maybe at one tier Her entire life had become focused upon her friends, her survival, and Devon Her heart gave a hty thump as her attention returned to him once more They had left him at the side of the woods, within close proxi!

Panic tore through her as she whipped out her cell phone, sliding it open she frantically dialed his nu swiftly away as she listened to the endless ringing It clicked over to his voice the phone shut, her hand shook with the terror suffusing her Taking a deep breath she tried to cal hi slowly back to them, she knew she was unable to keep the horror from her face "What is it?" Melissa asked softly

"We left Devon standing there, and he’s not answering his phone," she answered tremulously

Worry flitted over their faces as they quickly exchanged looks "He’s fine," Melissa assured her gently "I’m sure of it"

"How can you be so sure?" Cassie de her as she struggled to re us, wouldn’t it go after hirasped her arhtly soothed her tu rapidly back and forth, her fingers still clenched around her phone She had left him there, she had involved him in this, and she had left him there She had been too selfish to set hiuish tore through her nearly crushing her with the ferocity of it

She didn’t think she could survive without him In such a short time he had become a part of her, she needed him even more than she needed her own extremities She couldn’t lose him; she would lose the best piece of herself if she did She would hunt that thing down and destroy it if it hurt hi herself in the process

Her phone went off; the ringing jarred her as she juht of his na her phone, she walked swiftly away fro ok?" he de the tears of relief that burned her eyes "Yes, yes I uh I just wanted to say hi," she lied badly, feeling like a complete idiot as her face flamed red

He didn’t speak for apast his car as he drove "Are you sure?" his voice was still fierce, the tension in it unmistakable

"Yes, I’m sure"

"Are you still with Melissa and her father?"

"Yes"

"How are you getting home?"

"Chris will take me"