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"That does sound bloody fucking awful" And Shock looked nervous as hell about it

"I don’t have any reassuring words"

"Then givesanity, do me one favor?

At this point, as ratitude

"All right What do you need?"

"When the bond is severed, if my mind snaps, just kill me"

Chapter Thirteen

"We’re nearly finished," Sabelle advised as she stuck her head out the bedroo, Lucan wanted to pace, but sat fidgeting and restless In the wingback chair beside him, Shock looked ready to crawl out of his skin

"This is bloody aard" He tried tonext to your currentto becolare Lucan could see nothing behind the sunglasses, but he felt the heat of the wizard’s annoyance all the same "Thank you, Captain Obvious"

So much for that line of conversation Lucan tapped his toe, straining to hear any sound co to be all right They all knew that Shock wouldn’t be once this was over

"That’s right," Shock snarled "You promised to end me"

Lucan wasn’t exactly certain hoould do that, but he owed Shock On any other day, having a free invitation to kill the bastard would have been cause for throwing confetti and donning a party hat Not today Daain," Lucan pro anymore He hopped to his feet and paced the hallway "What’s taking so long? Mathias ripped us apart in what see of Anka’s panic and fear before it was done"

"I expect Millie and Sabelle have to be careful Her energy is waning, isn’t it? She’s already in pain I don’t bloody know"

Perhaps not, but those sounded like good guesses "Sheto free you, and I’d really love to hate you for it But she made a choice In her place, I would have done the same"

But Lucan didn’t know if he could live with it

"You think I’ thrilled? When she’s well--not if, but when--al Guy Fawkes tribute right in her face," Shock gruain?"

Anka had left Lucan oncethe rest of her centuries by his side But as Shock had aptly pointed out o, Anka needed reassurance She needed soht for her He planned to be that et there"

Shock snorted "Even if you have to pull her by the hair? She likes that, you know"

The visual made him ill "Not another da now and punch your face"

"I’d actually prefer that"

Lucan couldn’t help it; he laughed He never could have guessed when he awoke in his cold bed alone this ed He was theto hold her to that The rest? Window dressing that didn’t matter Whatever roadblocks they’d faced previously, he would work to put those behind them and rebuild Anka’s delicate sense of self-worth until she understood that whatever Mathias had done to her didn’t matter to him in the least Shehand noon’t give her back to a pussy I’d fight for her tooth and nail if you weren’t strong enough to give her what she needs"

Give her what she needs A phrase Mitchell Thorpe had been very fond of using Lucan understood that his first responsibility to Anka was to ensure her e And he would Then they would have a serious tête-à-tête about why she hadn’t returned ho free from Mathias Trust issues lurked there Lucan wasn’t sure why, but he’d get to the bottom of that posthaste

Sabelle popped her head out the door again "Lucan?"

He sprinted for the door "What is it?"

"She needs energy desperately Now" Sabelle stepped back to ady with her until the bond is broken You know that"

"It will be too late then She’ll be…gone"

"What the fuck?" Shock cursed froh his hair "How do you knoon’t be hurting her more?"

"I don’t But at least she will have the energy to endure"

Right, then Another ugly truth Another goddalanced over his shoulder Shock looked exhausted, like he wouldn’t give a shit now if a train ran hi his jaw, clothes ruil In an odd way, Lucan admired the other wizard’s resolution He didn’t trust Shock a whole lot--except when it cait had proven that he would always do as best for her, no matter what

"What do you think?" he asked Shock "I don’t want to hurt her, but failing to intervene doesn’t sound like an option"

Shock nodded "When she screams, it will fuck with my mood But you don’t have a choice Go"

Indeed Lucan sed down his jangled nerves Anka needed hiood conscience, leave Shock alone now He’d promised

Lucan whipped out his mobile and sent a quick text to Caden

"Bloody hell, no!" Shock bristled "I don’t need your little brother babysitting me"

But the badass wizard’s tian Bra Caden in the front door Ice followed hiether, they flanked Shock with identicalsmiles Clearly, they both hoped that Shock lost his ood boy or you won’t get any ice crealared at theainst the wall again He looked up at Lucan "Go"

Nodding, Lucan addressed his brother "You knohat to do If the worst happens, wait for me"