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If they remained unconscious all was lost And if Birik suspected anything, he’d never release them frolance at her tor too much "I can’t feel their animals I’mI’h them" It wasn’t entirely true She could still feel the aniic It was possible she really wouldn’t be able to pull the sah the her "You’re right Their power is greatly dampened" But he didn’t id gaze until she was certain he knew every thought in her head, could read every plan She didn’t aze held steady in the center of his tunic-clad chest

Finally, he turned and went to the Ferals One after the other, he touched the them from the enchantment that would have eventually worn off on its own if there had been time

Skye watched the happened They didn’tin the syste that took ht was upon theishly But the men remained enthralled

They were out of time!

As the sorcerers in their bloodred hooded robes assembled outside the twin circles of flames, Birik laid a knife on top of the half column between them Skye looked at it and knew it must be the famed Daemon blade, the prison of Satanan and his horde for five thousand years

A chill slithered down her spine

Birik nodded at her, a silent admonition to prepare herself, then stripped off his tunic, leaving his skin bare Like her, he would perfor but the blood of the sacrifices

She watched Paenther, trying not to stare, not to make it too obvious she was desperate for him to wake up She felt as if her heart would stop froripped the he it below one of the platforms

As she watched, Paenther’s eyes opened and blinked, but didn’t stray fro Wake up co and Foxx, she found thelazed

The cool, damp air of the cavern caressed her skin as she went to Paenther Birik had told her to prepare herself, but the thought of touching herself with the two Ferals watching was too much, even for her But there were other ways She knelt beside Paenther

"Can you hear ed with cat hair"

She bent low over hi her lips to his Hisin to claied in intensity, fro When she pulled back, sharp clarity cut through his eyes

"Where are the others?"

"They’re here It’s ht"

"Beware of Foxx, Skye He’s been turned"

She wanted to ask hiht so, and how it had happened, but there wasn’t ti the fire pits, Mage sentinels standing in a larger circle around theer on their side, it o against so many It would take a miracle for them to win

But if she didn’t free them, they would absolutely die

As the sorcerers took up the ht chant, Skye turned into her dance In her head, she repeated the spell to free their shackles Her gaze went to Foxx, then skirted to Jag He watched her, waiting Ready When she looked down at Paenther, she found hi up at her with hatred in his expression and love in his eyes

"Witch," he snarled loudly "Beauty," he whispered, his voice low nearly to the point of silence That single word, said with reverence, sang in her heart

It was ti back her head, closed her eyes, and said the words to release their shackles She felt the moment the animals within them roared in approval She opened her eyes to a flash of sparkling lights as the Ferals shifted into their animal forms

"Stop them!" Birik roared froe were on the aniic

On two of the animals Foxx walked toward her, still a e In his eyes was a coldness she’d never seen before A coldness she knew all too well

Paenther was right

They’d stolen Foxx’s soul

She turned and ran, but Mage blocked her way, and Foxx caught her before she’d gotten out of the hall

Skye! Get out of the cavern Paenther’s voice rang in her head

But it was too late For all of them

Foxx jammed his thumb beneath her ear Darkness descended over her mind

Too late

Chapter Twenty-four

No sooner had he shifted into his animal form and leaped onto his feet, than Paenther found hi knives They couldn’t enthrall him in this form, but if he didn’t move fast and lethally, they’d rip out his heart before he ever got a chance to attack

The only way to beat a Mage in battle was to remove his hands so he couldn’t enthrall, and that was exactly what he did He leaped at the nearest opponent, clae’s wrist and ripped his hand off his arrow another within the hour, but for now, that was one hand that wouldn’t enchant or wield a knife against hi! Paenther called telepathically Find Skye and the Dae pain tore through his abdomen as a blade slid between his ribs Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the jaguar in the middle of a battle as fierce as his own

Beauty?

Where was Foxx? If he’d already gotten to Skye

That’s an order, Jag!

Jag’s snort sounded in his head Tough shit, Geroni this place together, or not at all HowAnd two turned Ferals

Oh yeah, forgot about that We’re fucked

Paenther grunted Get free if you can and find Birik He’s the only one who has to die

Roger

Paenther tore off another hand, and another, as a blade sliced through his right hindquarter He stue He’d heal, if he got the chance The Mage were bearing down hard