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Tears glittered in her eyes as her hands lifted in a helpless gesture, then dropped to her sides "I can’t"

The wrenching honesty of her whispered words coe in the face of his threat stayed his hand and saved her life

But for how long, he didn’t know

Skye stood at the door of her cage, her teainst the cold steel as she watched Paenther in the cage across fro in thewith fury

"Releaseof Birik’s enthrallment

It had taken all three of the Therians, Delaney and Kara, and the four shape-shifters in their animal forms to wrestle Paenther into the house, back to the prisons, and into his cage His clothes were torn and bloody, though the wounds from the cats’ teeth and claws had already healed

Outside the prison cells, the huge cats paced

The Therians had left a short while ago when Wulfe, Hawke, and Kougar returned Now the three Ferals stood eyeing the scene with grinificent,off him in waves

If you value your life or his, tell htened,him all she knew "All I could think to do was call to your animals"

"So that’s why the yard suddenly filled with birds," Delaney said She was standing beside the tiger, stroking his fur "It looked like so out of a creeper movie"

Skye looked at the lion "I’d hoped your animals would hearyou would er and started toward her, but the tiger swung his head, blocking her way

"Tighe" Delaney groaned "Can’t you reverse it, Skye?"

"I’ve tried everything I know to do I sent the other ani so had no effect on the Ferals"

Even her gift had turned on her

Paenther heard the voices as if frorowls and roars of the Ferals’ ani shifted accidentally at breakfast, but he was able to shift back after a fewspent more time around the witch than the rest of you?" the Shaht in Paenther’s roo’s"

"This is clearly the witch’s doing," the Sha, letPaenther’s head began to lift, and he beca at the bars of one of the prison cells, his hands tied behind him Feral aniainst the wall, and Delaney stood with the tiger

The Sha I feel the enchantress’s call trapped within strong ropes of ht on Skye leaning against the back wall of the cell opposite hi on as she could

Skye "What did you do to me?" He said the words quietly, but her eyes widened and she flew to the bars of her own cage, her gaze reaching for hi to clear it "What happened?"

What do you reht about it for only aSkye’s cinnarunted "I wondered why there were sweet rolls on the stairs"

You were enthralled, BP, Lyon said The witch claih them

"From the mountain?" he asked incredulously

No, the Shaman thinks he or his one to look for them

"May I touch one of your shackles?" the Sha slowly, Paenther turned around to allow hiround together as he held control over the old toric that’s binding you in your ani from the shackles rather than the witch I believe it nifier for the enchantress’s natural gift She calls ani"

So we can’t reclai’s voice was ripe with disbelief

Lyon roared Find a way to re I’ic, but I’e"

Paenther pulled his hand froive ood is a knife going to do? Lyon asked

"I’ to cut off my feet and hands and pull theht hand"

Like hell There’s no telling if that ork

"There’s one possibility," the Sha shot"

Naroaned silently Yeah, that was going to feel good "If you think it’ll work, do it"

"I actually have strong doubts that it ork The veryto break will likely keepinto your memory But I’ve yet to find another option"

What exactly are you skinning his mind for? Lyon demanded

"The spell that was used to lock the shackles on hiht be able to fashion a counterspell"

Lyon growled his displeasure

The Sharipped the steel bars of her own cage "I once wore those shackles"

All eyes turned toward her as her unspoken offer became clear Soround out "It’s too painful"

Skye protested "It’s better than you cutting off your hands and feet"

"They’ll grow back"

"I can do this, Paenther"

"It’s going to hurt"

The Shae minds are built differently It certainly won’t hurt her as it did Kara Kara’s memory had been intentionally blocked I had to strip away the layers of ic to reach e needed I shouldn’t have to do that with the witch I’ll sier within easy reach of her conscious mind"

"See?" Skye cocked her head at him "Easy"

He didn’t like it What if the Sha? He trusted the s Feral or Therian, but the e What if he hurt her, intentionally or not?