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Lyon eyed her, his eyes narrowing as if he didn’t believe her

She tried to make him understand "I was as much a prisoner of that place as Paenther was I don’t ever want to go back But it’s not what I want that matters All that matters is that Birik not succeed" She stared at the Chief of the Ferals, willing him to know the truth of her words "You h she couldn’t bring herself to say the words out loud, the thought was clear in her eyes If you have to, destroyof Paenther’s strong presence and turned to find hi her with dark, unfathoure her out Sometimes she almost felt like he believed her Like he saw the truth

Almost

Two people slipped into the roo both well pleased and sheepish

"Sorry," Tighe said "We got a little carried away"

Lyon nodded, then turned back to Skye "Howes and a little-used back passage, which was the one I led Paenther through to escape But I don’t know if you can get through the warding on the mountain to reach the cavern I know it’s i withas he rose fro" Lyon warned

Paenther stood, putting hiry warrior "She can’t help it Ani scowled "Mine’s not drawn to her It’s getting itchy Annoyed And so aot to understand what’s going on before we deal with the witch"

His words did nothing to cal scowled He didn’t reach for her, but neither did he return to his seat Instead, he paced like a caged anie

Paenther reain their ancient ic?" Lyon demanded of her

"They didn’t"

"Do you think we’re fools?" The Chief of the Ferals’ voice was deceptively soft

"No, I think youbetween the world and true evil The Mage haven’t regained their ancient aze narrowed, but in question now rather than hostility "Explain"

Skye clasped her hands, knitting her fingers together behind her "I don’t know the entire story, but I’ve heard rumors that the Eleo He was only a sentinel at the tih the ranks to becoes people I think he changed Birik a long ties o"

"How ht, but not ht or nine years after I’d arrived there Thirty or so years ago He did soe I think he stole their souls They serve the purpose of the High Daemon now"

The room went deathly silent Growls slowly erupted

"Satanan hasn’t risen," Lyon said

"No" Skye shook her head "Inir’s intent is to free hi forward "Dark spirit always seeks to free evil Some believe the dark spirit left in the world is part of Satanan himself, tiny bits of his consciousness left behind when he was imprisoned"

Lyon’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Skye "So you have no soul?" The cords in Lyon’s neck were beginning to stand out

Skye’s pulse ratcheted up another notch "I alone was left untouched by Inir’s sorcerers Birik feared I’d lose ed me He feared he’d lose the source of e eyes," Paenther said behind her "That’s a e haven’t had inblack gaze "Birik gave me that ability in the form of a short-terer hide thehold"

Skye turned back to the table as Lyon addressed his men "I want Vhyper and the blade out of there, and those Daeoing to take to free Paenther from the shackles?"

"I don’t know"

"Work on it I need him" Lyon turned back to the table "But we can’t wait Kougar, Wulfe, and Hawke, you’ll leave for the Blue Ridge iroup and th"

Foxx leaned forward, his face eager "And o, Lyon I’ve already been out there I’ll recognize the area"

"You reotten?"

"Lyon?" Foxx persisted

The Chief of the Ferals shook his head "You stay here, Foxx You were touched by ain" He turned to Hawke "Go I don’t knohat she’s doing to our animals, but I feel it, too The sooner you’re out of here, the better Foxx and Paenther can fill you in further over the phone"

Hawke nodded as all threewhy the ani they were All but Paenther’s Why? She was doing nothing to antagonize the Ferals the to harry?

Jag began snarling, glaring at her

"You take your life in your hands, witch," Lyon warned

"I don’t knohat I’ to shake "It’s not on purpose"

Jag started around the table toward her again Paentherdidn’t back off this tis sprouted in his ertips, and his eyes turned the color of a jungle cat’s

Paenther tensed, his arht "Back off, Jag"

"If you can’twith our ani creature Jag had beco they were going to land right on top of her, but Paenther met the attack with one of his own The twoand ripping at flesh in a tangle of teeth and claws and ht went on for about ten more seconds before the two bloody co one another as if ready to go at it again

Her heart pounded

"No one touches her butwar her From his own men