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Bram hesitated, then nodded "I’ll ask one of the others to assu If she conceives, I’ll restrict her or eliainst Mathias, but if Shock gets her with…" Braned to turn Lucan somewhere between miserable and murderous "If she does conceive, I’ll remind her to focus on the life in front of her, not the one she’s left behind"

Lucan would do well to remember that himself As he stomped onto the first step, descended to the second, he resisted the urge to look back He’d want to tear into the room, and for what? Did he really want to see Anka naked under Shock while he strained to fill her fertile body with energy, pleasure, and seed?

With a gri down the stairs before a scream unlike any other ripped the air in tith a shrill wail Sto of a doorknob drew him back around Finally, Shock wrenched the door open and stood in the portal looking disheveled, his hair askew, his jacket hanging off one shoulder He sported a series of angry red gashes down one cheek Marks froed on his coat, and squared those concealing black shades on his face Then he charged toward the stairs, stopping just beside Lucan Menace rolled off hi hate you You’re a pussy and you don’t deserve her If you don’t give her what she needs now and always, there won’t be a hole deep enough for you to hide in I will hunt you down and kill you as slowly and painfully as possible"

Shock was…leaving? Conceding defeat? Hadn’t he and Anka just been having sex? Hadn’t Shock been feeding her need created by the spell?

Lucan didn’t plan to stay here and ask the bloody lout, not when Anka was alone and hurting

He zipped past Shock and ran for the open bedroo fro back, one fist raised, his wand ready in the other But the noise hadn’t co foe Instead, Shock had punched the wall, knocking a hole through the plaster and paint, leaving a gash and bleeding knuckles behind He glared at Bra Braer" Shock shot Lucan a disdainful snarl "What are you looking at? Why are you standing there when she’s waiting? Do you needpicture?"

Anka had really rejected Shock, given the bastard the heave-ho?

"Yes, for fuck’s sake! Go!" Shock shouted, then sto his way out the front door With a heavy bang, he teleported away

Anka had rejected Shock…and now she waited for hi madly in his chest, Lucan rushed into the shadowed bedroo the door behind him It took a moment to adjust to the dihtened eyes, clutching the spread from the bed up to her chin She trembled so hard, her teeth shook

His heart broke

Lucan forced himself to take slow steps into the rooht circled his brain over and over: Shock wasn’t the true mate of her heart

But what if he wasn’t either? That question haunted Lucan as he reached for her, giving her plenty of time to reject his touch if she needed

"Love?" He reached out for her, his hand closing the distance between theasped, tre you?"

"No The pain of Shock… I couldn’t bear to have hiht me out of the frenzy, but your hand…that’s nice"

He could touch her and not cause her pain, as Shock had Hope crashed in, thrashed around inside hiic Did thataside the question, he forced himself to focus on her and her alone "Tell me how I can help you, Anka Or can I at all?"

She closed her eyes and her body started to shudder with sobs God, he wished someone would simply take a knife to his soul and cut hi her suffer, than thisher delicate shoulders shake

Then she nuzzled her cheek into his hand "Tell anna put a spell on you, love You’ll be all right in a few days You’re not dying There’s no need to worry I’ll stay by your side, if you need me"

"Shock…" She opened her eyes and looked away "He tried to…" She sed another sob, not letting it loose "But it hurt I couldn’t stand it, no ony So I’d closed y and friendship, but I couldn’t tolerate him--or the sudden pain--today I’m sure you would rather not discuss him, but I’ve no one else to talk to"

His heart stopped Hope surged She’d only ever endured Shock’s touch? "You didn’t want him?"

"In my head, yes He’s safe But in my heart, I couldn’t I just couldn’t"

Relief let loose sos and evened out the careening between hope and fear Breathing caathered her into his arms "We only hat’s best for you, so he left I’m here You’ll tell me if I hurt you"

"I already hurt," she whi inside hi?"

"No" She leaned in and nuzzled her face in his neck "You feel good"

There was a wealth ofin that sentence He soothed her and made her feel protected But when she nipped at his earlobe and kissed a little spot just beneath, he shivered Cos on herback, the frenzy" She sounded slightly panicked

"You needing, love?" He gently pulled the bedspread away frorip and set it aside where she couldn’t reach it and hide froain

Beneath it all, she sat naked, a flushed tangle of soft skin and shaking legs She closed her eyes and turned her face away, looking embarrassed and torn "Yes I’er under her chin "Look atthose aize to me for what you need Just tell me so I can help"

"It’s not very… proper"

A slow grin stretched across his face "Even better"

With a tre, she looked into his eyes "I’ve missed you"

"Love, I’ve died every day without you"

Her smile fell "You’re better off without ripped her chin more fir toto ive you what you need All you have to do is tell me what that is"

Anka hesitated, drew in a shaky breath Then she launched herself at hi hiskiss that made hih his et answers