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And yethe clenched his teeth against the pain as he stared at the lion, tiger, and jaguar pacing in front of his cage A cage he wasn’t likely to get far from after what just happened There was soit unless I’reed, Lyon said Wulfe?

Wulfe took a key off the hook and opened Paenther’s cage He pulled a switchblade from his pants pocket, and Paenther turned to allow him access to his ropes As the ropes fell free, Paenther turned and greeted his friend properly, then pushed past hio to Skye

The moment he entered her cell, she slid into his arainst his shoulder as his hand burrowed into her hair

"Tell ht hi her tremble "Easy, little one" But he couldn’t bla outside her cage, eyeing her as if they meant to make her their next meal

They wouldn’t, of course They’d darowl, he dipped his head and captured herher in front of his brothers She’s mine

The kiss eased his soul, and it ith reluctance that he drew back, cupping her face gently, briefly, before he turned on the Sharowl

"You hurt her, you die"

Skye touched his arm "Paenther, it’s okay I can handle it"

"I’ve seen what you can handle" His hard gaze never left the Shae, and I’d hate for it to creep into his actions here"

To his credit, the Shaaze with perfect calm "I vow to you, I’ll not intentionally hare, warrior I cannot be certain of the outcorowled, but nodded "Do it"

The Shaman turned to Skye "Lie down"

Paenther held her hand as she lowered herself to the stone floor As the Sha his thuers where they curled around his

The pain tore at his flesh, but his only concern was for Skye He held her tight as the Sharipped her head in his hands He’d been there when the Shaoddess, the pain He’d already seen Skye in pain when he still thought she was against him, and every time it had nearly killed hiain Not when she was coan to chant, Paenther steeled hiony to hit her

"How far back, witch?"

"Skye," Paenther snapped "Her name is Skye"

"How old were you, Skye?" the Shaht of her stretched out on that rock like he’d been, abusedPaenther’s hand clenched hers Birik was going to die

Her hand spas as her entire body went rigid

"It hurts," he growled

Skye squeezed his hand "It’s okay"

"Like hell"

"I’ to open your memories of that ti you back there, but we’ll bring you forward again when it’s done It’s up to you to find the spell Find it and repeat it Are you ready?"

"Yes"

The Shaible words, then stopped abruptly "We should be there"

Skye’s body went rigid

"How old are you, Skye?" the Shaher Younger As he watched her face, her botto into her eyes "I want ht For one horrible irl she’d been

"Skye," the Sha the shackles?"

"Yes"

"Has he put the cantric in you, yet?"

"I’h for a cantric" Her eyes ith fear "He’s co to hurt rip on his hand and stroked her head, hating, hating, theto hurt you again, Skye Never again"

The Shalanced at him, then spoke to her "Skye, you’re a little older noant you to come forward a few days To the day he removed your shackles"

Her skin was cool but damp to his touch as Paenther stroked the short hair off her forehead

"Are you wearing the shackles, Skye?"

"I don’t need the them off"

"Repeat the spell, Skye Repeat the spell Birik used to remove your shackles"

Softly, ale in the voice of the girl she’d once been The Shaman took her free hand and curled it around one of Paenther’s an to dance at his wrists and ankles, a prickly, uncoan to burn The ht, the air filling with the s flesh His flesh

With a sudden, blinding burst of light, pain roared through his body He stu black as the fire fros to consuony

"Get her out of here!" Lyon’s huh the prison block

"No!" Paenther reached blindly for Skye, feeling her strong, slender ar He locked her against hi hands of one of his brothers

"Easy, BP," Tighe said

Skye’s small hand stroked his back "You need to sit down"

His voice cracked with pain "What did you do to " Skye’s voice sounded sone"

"Gone?" He reached for his opposite wrist and foundnothing "I’ll be daive you radiance, BP" Lyon’s voice reached out to hio of the witch"

"Not the witch Skye" He was finally starting to see through the white-hot pain Lyon was back in his hu in the doorway of the cell, sans clothes He aze "You hurt her, Roar, and I’ll kill you"<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>