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She didn’t look his way "Yes, we are"

A pause She felt his rage building Then she heard hiain The door slammed She and Braether to keep the

Brahting with us will present obstacles"

"I’ fronity, my sense of security He tortured e"

"The Doomsday Brethren isn’t here for your personal vendetta"

The truth stung "You need anna’s dehters ill not waver when things becoive me He can’t possibly hurt ed

"I think you can’t afford to be picky You race ht the abilities and a human? Really?" She cut Bram with a skeptical stare "At the very least, I think you need to consider that Tynan’s death leaves a hole a the ranks that I could fill"

Braood of the e, I’ll let you in"

She cocked her head at hi to accept me, weren’t you?"

A sue your side to see if you were dedicated enough to take the hard work this will require"

"Sneaky bastard" She smiled It was hard to stay mad at Braot a few conditions before I’ll allow you to join this fight, however"

And this here Braotiator, and all she wanted was to jump in and rip out Mathias’s throat now "What?"

"YouYou’ll learn to fight in every way Marrok and I insist You’ll stay each day until we release you No complaints It’s hard, sweaty work, and this is no time to worry about your hair"

"I’reed "But I guarantee you’ll never work harder in your life Marrok is relentless, and I encourage it We don’t have the advantage of a bigger fighting force or the element of surprise We have to be better prepared"

"I’ll be here every day, as long as you need me to be"

"What will Shock say to that?"

"Nothing I moved out I don’t even think he knows it Sabelle said I could adopt a spare bedroom here"

"No That’s another condition You return to Shock"

"What?" She would have thought that Bra ato need energy far ive it to you"

Anka hesitated She remembered those first few days after the formation of the Doomsday Brethren Lucan had returned home from Marrok’s drills co, spending hours working her body into a sweet froth of need, thenThey’d fallen asleep in exhaustion, curled up around one another Those had been soreat personal happiness, so filled with Lucan and his need for her

The s to join the fight, expend the energy to train--and she would need to replenish her energy as frequently as Lucan once had Did he still require that ht

"I’ll find a surrogate" Though she found that thought distasteful, too Letting soe wizard paw her… Unlike most of her kind, she’d only ever taken two lovers Shock had been her first, had seen her though the transition into ic, and cared for her until she’d mated with Lucan After Mathias’s brutal, repeated assault and a hundred years of , she didn’t kno she’d accept another wizard’s touch

Bram shook his head "Whatever Shock’s issues, he’ll keep you safe when you’re not here I don’t have the resources or energy to expend worrying about you alone at night or with soht hate Shock, but he’d never want to see you hurt Besides, I know Shock is capable of giving you what you need"

Anka sed If Braave her what she needed--and now craved in order to cleanse her soul--but he wielded it like a weapon, doling it out sparingly, withholding it until she caved into whatever his deate could give her what Shock could They’d probably be horrified if she asked

If she wanted to fight Mathias and get her revenge, she would have to s her pride

"All right, then I’ll return to Shock"

"I’ll allow you to train with us As to whether you fight…that will be up to me, Marrok, and whoever teaches you If we think you’re not ready, you’ll stay behind This isn’t a de with Braht "No coddling me because I’m female or because I’m your best friend’s foriven"

Anka sent him a sharp nod, and Brae skirt, delicate heels, silk blouse, riot of curls Without a word, he cataloged everything wrong with her wardrobe and general appearance

"I’ll be dressed in soiven "And coy If you’re not ready, you’re out"

Energy Froht, then

Bram stared with a raised brow, and it took Anka a moment to realize that she’d been dismissed She turned and made her way off of Bram’s estate, then teleported back to the one place--to the one ain But she had no doubt Shock would ave her And he’d enjoy the hell out of it Tears fell as she opened his door

~ ~ ~ ~

The summons to join Bram in his office had come not a moment too soon Lucan had been ready to lose his mind What the hell had Bram said to Anka?