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"We had to assutime business partner, Gates kneasn’t hu those kinds of secrets, Jordana And ently, we needed to determine whether Martin Gates and Cass could also have ties to Opus Nostrum"

"No That’s iine Martin Gates having anything to do with Cass’s notorious club, she refused to believe her father--either of theroup responsible for lobal peace suh that wasn’t the case Martin Gates and Cassian Gray were keeping a very big secret, but it wasn’t Opus Nostrum It was you"

He stepped closer, but she retreated a pace "How long did you know the Order would be coht?" Jordana’s voice sounded broken, even to her own ears "Were you planning for his arrest even while you and I were alone together in rowled, low under his breath

Nathan’s scowl deepened "Did I use you? Fuck no Never, Jordana" He gave a sharp shake of his head "But understand I also had to do my job"

She scoffed quietly, even while her heart caved to hi your job now too? Is that why you’re here--because of what I aured out where you "

He stared at her,that curled up from the back of Zael’s throat "You need to co we know about you now You need to come back to Boston, where it will be my job and the Order’s to keep you safe froht think he has a clai look on Zael

"I have no claim," Zael said evenly "But someone more powerful than any of us does It was at her command that those soldiers tracked and killed my old friend Cassianus And unless they’re stopped--or unless they lose the trail they’re most certainly on now--those same men will continue to look for Jordana by order of their queen"

"Their queen," Nathanabout?"

"Jordana is her granddaughter"

Nathan’s answering curse was rough, disbelieving But Zael continued, undaunted "The soldiers were closing in on Jordana last night in Boston"

"Closing in on her," Nathan said, then he see Her Atlantean nature is leading therim nod "They will track her to the ends of the earth unless steps are taken They were in Boston since the night they located Cass They would’ve found Jordana If I hadn’t reached her first, they would’ve already taken her back to the realm"

"Ah, Christ" Nathan turned a stricken look on her "And I had left you alone They er flared in her "It’s not your job to protect me, Nathan Dammit, it’s not anyone’s job to protectin her hands intensified The buzzing in her veins grew deeper, a pulsating thru a furious look between Nathan and Zael "I’roo treated as if everyone else knohat’s best forthe sensation of heat and energy had gotten in her hands until she noticed both Zael and Nathan staring at her Only then did she look down at her pallow that emanated froht was the outline of a crescent moon and teardrop

The Atlantean asped His stor moment, awestruck "My God … Jordana"

Zael’s response was less arirave look at Jordana "We delayed too long They’re here"

27

EVERY MUSCLE IN NATHAN’S BODY SNAPPED TO ATTENTION ON Zael’s warning

There was no tie he’d seen in Jordana No opportunity to assess the newly arrived danger, or to catalog the nus in preparation for the battle to come

"We cannot let Jordana be taken" Zael looked to Nathan, gravity in his face and his words As he spoke, Nathan noticed the leather thong looped around Zael’s wrist The silvery eled from the cord was lit with unearthly fire "This crystal can transport her far froave the Atlantean warrior a nod He looked at Jordana, his heart choking as though it were caught in a vise "Go with him I need to know you’re somewhere safe"

"What about you?" Panic bled into her face, into the ice-blue eyes that had looked at hiht "Zael," she said, an urgency--a clipped, regal demand--in her voice "What about Nathan?"

The Atlantean shook his head in faint denial "I’m sorry, Jordana The crystal will only work for our kind And besides, he can’t go where I must take you"

His sword in one hand, Zael reached out for her with the other, the crystal’s light building

"No I’ anywhere Don’t toucha tormented look on Nathan "How could you think I would leave you behind only to save myself? Don’t you realize what that would do tohappened to her, it would be worse than any abuse he’d ever suffered He would never forgive hio--"

"Dammit, Nathan, don’t you realize that I love you?"

She had no sooner said the words than the air stirred outside the open French doors to the terrace

In the blink of an eye, a pair of immense males materialized there It was apparent they were soldiers Obvious they had come for her, just as Zael said they would

Eachblade much like the one Zael now raised in front of him, as he swiftly ushered Jordana behind hi for the attack to couns and opened fire on the two Atlanteans

The larger of the two, dark-haired and snarling, staggered back on his heels under the sudden barrage of bullets that ripped into his chest and skull His coreen eyes, took a couple of rounds in his torso before vanishing into thin air

Nathan kept firing on the bigholes into the bastard until his tattered, un of the balcony

Jordana’s scream jerked Nathan’s head around The other soldier had reappeared farther inside the villa and was now bearing down on her and Zael

Zael put his body between Jordana and their attacker, raising his blade as the othertoward him The Atlantean weapons clashed in a screech of reen sparks Zael went down on one knee, driven low by the sudden, wrenching thrust of his opponent’s ar the speed of his Breed genetics, he flashed across the roorabbed the Atlantean’s head in both his hands and gave a violent twist Vertebrae popped like firecrackers The soldier let go of his blade and slumped to the floor in a lifeless heap

As the body fell away, Zael opened his