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Mathias had given theht This was his declaration of war

Anka screa the little bottle into her dripping jeans and whipping out the knife she’d stowed in her pocket Magic wouldn’t kill Anarki She was going to have to hack her way through them

"Call them back, Mathias!" Bram ordered

"I think not You pro her with fury "Give it to me or face them"

As one, Ice, Caden, and the twins all teleported to the bank in front of the advancing Anarki, hu ed toward the fight, clearly ready for battle

The sudden clash of blades and the hoarse cries of warriors filled the night Nervously, Anka watched the battle rage Five soldiers with a river at their back against hundreds of Anarki Who could survive those odds? Yes, they could eic--at least for now--but even then, were there too h her veins

Suddenly, Lucan was gripping her ar her behind him as he watched the Anarki advance "Go!"

Aaround for Duke and Felicia’s arrival The Untouchable would save the loose or at least prevent Mathias froic to destroy them

Instead, a witch stood on a hill not far fro in thein the chilly breeze She wore a dress straight out of the sixth century Her signature blared brightly like a neon sign

"Morganna," The name fell from Anka’s lips

Dear God, they were doomed

Braht What the devil would happen now? A battle of epic proportions, she had no doubt

Mathias’s head snapped around, and he fixed narrowed eyes on Morganna’s slight body in the distance, her hair and dress flapping in the breeze Lucan’s and Shock’s stares both followed

This plan was quickly going to hell

Anka shoved the potion deeper into her pocket, trying not to alert Morganna that she had the vial But Morganna’s violet gaze zeroed in on her instantly A gust of cold wind blew through Anka, also delivering a blast of ale nearly dropped her to her knees Even though she shivered, she refused to bow to Morganna’s not-so-subtle warning

"Givein your belly"

"Leave, Anka!" Lucan shouted

Teleport away She’d pro She anna would plague thee secret she’d concealed fro, he needed to know that he could trust her But if she left noas she consigning her friends--and thechip She must decide quickly how best to use it

"Stay here, Anka," Bram said "She’ll only follow you and corner you when you’re alone"

"You don’t know that, Bra safe"

Her mind raced In the battle with the Anarki, Ice and Caden both withdrew their wands She wasn’t sure why, since Anarki were iic But they must have soanna and Mathias?

Another whoosh interrupted the scene With a spooked glance to her left, Anka spotted Duke and Felicia standing not ten meters away on the bank of the river, near Shock

The Untouchable would neutralize Morganna and Mathias--a relief, yes--but she would also prevent Caden, Ice, and the twins froht the Anarki Bloody hell! Nohat? The handful of warriors had no prayer of defeating a battalion of Anarki alone Mathias had given his brainless ht, and they would continue to do so Now that he could no longer use ic to command them to stand down, the only way to stop them all quickly was to kill Mathias

"An Untouchable?" Morganna screamed suddenly

"Anka," Braht Remember our deal Give the bottle to Mathias"

Now? Voluntarily approach the ive hiickind’s lanced Lucan’s way, not surprised that he looked ready to tear his former friend’s head froive the potion to Mathias? Because Morganna would then attack the evil wizard? Because they would be upholding their end of the bargain? Uncertain, one scenario after another whizzing around in her head, Anka played along and nodded, her insides quivering with fear

The sounds of clanging swords and growled curses split the air Soso quickly The outcome of a battle had never been less certain Anka wanted to live, wanted to see her precious youngling born Bram had a plan; she had to believe it would work

With a shaking hand, Anka held out the potion toward Mathias He took it froreedy swipe of his hand, then shoved it in his coat pocket His nearness horrified her, terrified her She wanted to stand tall and brave and fight him, but memories overwhelmed her She shrank back, a thousand flashbacks of the worst days of her existence pelting her un as much distance between herself and him as possible

But half of the Doolanced between her and his friends, clearly torn When Caden took a blade across the shoulder, Lucan leapt into action, joining the fray

"Anka!" he yelled, co his voice "Go!"

Save herself, hehis loyalties and let hiht the Anarki--probably to their deaths That’s what he wanted her to do

But she couldn’t leave all of her friends and loved ones to die