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Trapped Again The last time

Memories rose up, and with them a terror that stole her breath She felt weak, sick at her stomach She had to ain!

"You’re safe, Mel," Fox said quietly against her te her to look at hi her to hear hi happen to you, I pro

"I’y"

Histhe strong curve of his jaw and its light dusting of golden beard stubble "Your energy isn’t all pleasure this time, that’s for sure" That stubbled chin brushed her tee and their warding But his low voice soothed, and she found herself holding on to hi her in a sensual cocoon that almostalmost made her feel safe

But safety of any kind was an illusion

The eled to contain them, to control them She couldn’t live with them, not this way Not this way Too much

"Bloody hell," Foxin the direction he was looking and stilled, stunned as she stared at the beautiful lake far below, sparkling beneath the sunny sky

"What’s the matter?"

"This is the e came"

She frowned "There was no lake the e came"

"Precisely"

"Are we lost?"

"Not lost, no I have an excellent sense of direction, and I know exactly where we should be It has to be ic" He turned his face, onceto put you down I want to take a look around and try to pick up our trail I need to shift"

He lowered her to the ground atop a soft bed of leaves and moss beneath a tall oak But the ain, the panic crawling up her throat What if the ic swept him away?

"Mel?" he asked worriedly

"I’m fine," she snapped

He eyed her for a ht"

In a flash of sparkling lights, he shifted, then began sniffing,sloay

Melisande clutched her knees to her chest, shivering from a cold that burrowed deep inside of her as if the shards of shattered ice were rising to the surface Phylicia’s face, her deathher with loss and a fury too deep to voice Ever since that first alliance between Ferals and Ilinas a thousand years ago, the Mage had been determined to destroy the mist warriors They’d taken one, now And what of Ariana and Brielle? Would Jag reach the the same fate?

Fear for them pressed down on her until she could hardly breathe, until she felt as if a Feral stood on her chest, crushing her

She struggled for control, struggled to feel nothing, as her gaze followed the huge red fox Finally, he shifted back to human form As he started back, Melisande pushed herself to her feet, then sank back dohen her legs refused to hold her

Aher arm carefully His brows dren, the back of his hand pressing against her cheek "You’re like ice" Without a moment’s hesitation, he sat beside her and pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his thick war her head, he pressed her cheek to his shoulder

Her warrior’s pride demanded she push him away Instead, she shuddered with relief and curled into his warmth For just a few minutes, she told her pride I need this

"You’re still shaking like a leaf You’re in shock, Mel," he said quietly "You can cry you know" His nose nudged her forehead "I won’t tell"

She almost smiled "I don’t remember how to cry" As the th of Fox’s arms, her trean to feel his Not a warrior’s alert tenseness, but pain

"I’y is, aye"

"You should have gone with Jag and Olivia"

The hand pal her with a care that felt alienand disturbingly sweet "I would never leave you here, alone and defenseless"

She pulled back until she could see his face His broere pulled together, small furrows of pain between his eyes

"Would you have left Phylicia if I’d been the one who’d died?" she asked

He was silent for ait around his hand "No I would never abandon any female like that" The truth of his words shone in his eyes "Or any male, for that matter"

"Why do you have to be so daed at his lips "Do you wish me dishonorable?"

"I could dislike you easier if you were You’re a hard ently on her braid "You’re no longer shaking"

"No But I’ me" She frowned "I don’t kno to shut it off"

"Hopefully, it will stop on its own I’ll carry you until you’re stronger"

"I think I can walk, now Did you find our trail?"

His jaw tensed "No The trail is gone, both forward and aft It’s as if we misted into this spot"

"That’s impossible"

"Aye, but it’s a fact We’re not where ere"

Cold dread trickled down her spine "Then where are we?"

He shook his head "I’ve no bloody idea" Lifting her off his lap, he rose, then pulled her to her feet beside hied to hold her this ti the weakness Pulling away froaze "I can walk"