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"From your existence without sex? I’ your fair share since she came to live under your roof" He couldn’t keep the bitterness out of his voice

"Yeah, and if that bugs the hell out of you, well, so sorry, Sir Galahad But she spoke the Binding to o Forever Like you said, her heart chose, and it wasn’t me"

Shock believed that Anka intended to break their bond?

"Souy an award," Shock quipped "Exactly How else a to be free to love soh her head?"

"But why now? It ht kill her"

Meaty hands curled into fists "I don’t think that idea bothers her the way it does you ortalk to me"

"Join the club She’s really not the same woman anymore Her independent streak is a mile wide now"

"Clearly"

Lucan paced, trying to take it all in and understand the ra and…hoped I would see your bond?"

He nodded "Then lose your bloody temper and denounce her eternally so that once ive a shit That’sto happen"

"Do you truly love her?"

Turning to Shock as if he’d lost his mind, Lucan frowned "How can you doubt it?"

Shock looked at him as if he’d lost every shred of sanity "You hardly demanded that she co You left her with ht for her What was anyone supposed to think, except that your pride was more important than your love for her?"

Shock’s speech stung like a bitch Worse, Lucan realized there ry when he realized that Anka hadn’t come home to him, and had assumed she’d rejected him for a prick he couldn’t stand She’d broken his heart And he’d been too proud to ask why

"Seeing the picture now? She cried herself sick when she teleported to your house by accident a few days ago and found you’d brought a surrogate there"

She’d seen hiearing up to close his eyes and pretend that he was no longer alone Knowing that he’d hurt her badly stabbed bitter fury into his chest That day, he’d been desperate to prove that he could hold someone else within those four walls that Anka still haunted with her presence And he’d failed hts of another feret re to understand You leftwith ave almost no indication that she mattered"

"That’s crap" Lucan pushed hied her to co and terrified She needed reassurance When her spirit was bruised and her self-confidence battered, you took her refusals far too easily After that, how the hell was she supposed to believe that you really cared?"

When the hell had Shock become Dr Phil?

"It’s not hard, you stupid prat, when I can read her fucking ive anna’s spell ear off, and you could keep her for yourself then"

Shock tossed his hands in the air "It’s not me she wants And I won’t take her free will Is it such a stretch for you to believe that I’d do anything for her?"

At this point? "No, but isn’t there a part of you that wonders if, perhaps, over time, you could make her love you?"

"She already loves me," Shock assured him, totally confident in that assess pains ret it"

Lucan nodded, stunned Shock wasn’t exactly who or what he’d believed or expected His feelings for Anka had peeled back the layers and revealed someone more human, more sensitive--

"Oh, blast it You did not just think that I’m sensitive" A scowl thundered across Shock’s face

"Not at all," Lucan lied

"Spectacular Now fuck off"

After everything Shock had told him? "Sure Happy to Feel free to do the same"

"Once she’s well, absolutely"

They both stared at Anka, who sighed softly, tossing and turning on the soft sheets of the bed She needed his touch Lucan realized it innately It pained hinature blared with the proof of her bond to Shock But this wasn’t about hi to his knees beside the bed, he cupped Anka’s cheeks "I’ht"

At least he hoped that would be true

"Millie will be around in a tick!" Bram called up the stairs "Sabelle will be back, too, to see if she can impart any calm to Anka with her siren ability"

Perfect Why the bloody hell hadn’t he thought of that sooner? Maybe Sabelle could ease Anka and help her survive theHe prayed A world without Anka… He shook his head and tried to quiet the terror in his belly Knowing that she was under Shock’s roof had been gut-wrenching and terrible, but at least he’d always known deep down that he would have the chance to talk to her again If she didn’t survive now, Lucan didn’t think he would either

"We have to believe that she’llat her with a frown "Fucking hate it when she goes pale like this"

Yes, Lucan hated it, too

"Listen…the " Shock sed "Is it really bloody awful?"

Lucan lifted his head, realizing that Shock would soon endure what he had after Mathias had destroyed his bond with Anka Any other day, he would have rejoiced at the thought of the big, leather-wearing arse feeling pain Today, it all just felt petty

"Beyond awful I don’t reony, an erief, and a fury that wouldn’t die"