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He grabbed her upper ar until she winced

"Reic" Her eyes beseeched him "Paenther, there’s no time! This will be your only chance to escape Save yourself Save us all"

The need to get Vhyper out of there, to fight his enemies, retrieve the Dae thing inside hi now, before Birik realized she’d freed hiht be his only option He’d rally the Ferals, and they would attack as one

Paenther released her

She hesitated for one pulsing, wary moment, then turned and fled for the door "Coe When she reached the dagger fields, she turned to theover her from behind "Watch your head as you watch your feet If one of the stalactites crashes, we’ll be caught"

He said nothing, the only emotion in his eyes the promise of a slow, violent death Her heart thudded, and she thought of running and letting him find his oay out

But he’d never find it And they’d be right back where they were tonight, freeing Daemons

Choose

She took a breath and rushed into the uncleared field of stalagerous patch where the floor and ceiling sloped together, converging until the rocklike daggers hanging froan to reseh here enough times to know the only path, but she was much smaller than he was Still, as she made her way, no sound followed behind her She turned to find hih the rock as sleekly and silently as the cat that lived inside him

In the distance, the last of the screams died away, and the sound of excited voices rose Her pulse began to pound They were running out of time Few ever came this way, but she wasn’t the only one who knew the route If anyone saw her with the Feral, they’d sound the alar, beads of perspiration rolling between her breasts, she finally led him out of the difficult patch of rock and onto a wide path Around the next bend was the s that led to the forest and freedo in, cool and dae, she turned to the angry Feral "When you get outside, run and don’t look back The shackles areI don’t kno far is too far for Birik to call you back" She stepped back between two stalagmites and pointed "There, warrior Around those rocks, you’ll find the opening to the outside Be safe Run!"

Paenther’s hand closed tight around her wrist, his expression turning ugly "Do you really think I’d leave you behind, witch? When all I can think of is taking e on you?"

Skye’s knees ith fear "Please, I can’t leave He won’t let me leave"

Paenther jerked her off her feet and into the solid rock of his chest, his free hand closing around her throat "Your choices end here, witch"

As her mind hite with terror, his thumb pressed into the crevice beneath her ear

Then all went black

Chapter Seven

Cold rain drizzled over Paenther’s head, running in rivulets down his bare chest and beating on the shackles he still wore as he ran through the dark, wet fields He’d run several one at least a few more Around his shoulders, he’d draped the unconscious witch

She’d told hih he had reason to doubt everything she said, he was taking no chances

Running from that place, and his chance to save Vhyper, was possibly the hardest thing he’d ever done But he’d be no use to Vhyper or anyone else if Birik caught hi he’d been out of it between the blood ritual and the Dae the first, but as he’d escaped the cave, the sky had been purple with dusk Had he lost another entire day? And how ed him down to her lair?

He followed the now-dark road but took care to re shackles, and carrying an unconscious young woman, he’d draw far more attention than he wanted froe if they caoal was to find a phone and call Lyon

And find a knife He had yet to attract draden, but it was only a matter of time There were no swaroddess, but the occasional rogue draden could be found anywhere Sooner or later, if there were any in the area, they’d find him

As he approached a dark far was his only alternative

He laid Skye within a cluster of trees on the hillside and pressed his thumb into her slender neck to make sure she stayed fully unconscious He stared down at her da inside hi him believe she was in need of his sy bitch But even as he knehat she was, her fragile beauty tugged at hi away from the siren who enchanted him even in her sleep What he’d told her was true If it was the last thing he did, he’d get his revenge

He approached the house with catlike stealth, frustrated he couldn’t actually shift into his cat No scent of dog reached his nose, which boded well for keeping his arrival a secret When he found the back door unlocked, he slipped inside, palrabbed the phone

He punched in Lyon’s nu his chief would answer the call

"Hello?"

"It’s Paenther" He kept his voice low on the off chance there was actually sooddess Where are you?"

"Good question" Looking around, he found a he and Jag have been in the he’s clone?"

"Is dead Tighe’s fine"

Paenther closed his eyes, sending a prayer of thanks skyward "That’s the best bit of news I’ve gotten in days What about Foxx?"

"He’s here What’s the situation? Do you need additional backup?"

"No The attack is going to have to wait I’o near the place without risk of enthrall to pick you up"

"Roar, I’ot the witch who captured me We have some unfinished business," he added darkly

Lyon was silent for severalwe need is another witch in this house"

"She needs to be interrogated"

Silence, then a lol "Bring her in, but I want her hands tied at all times And you’ll have to be cleared of any possible enchanteline?"

"Yes" Evangeline had been his sexual partner of choice for decades Their relationship had never extended beyond the sex, though that was his fault He had no softness to give a wole" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>