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"Stop, please And don’t defend Leo"

Lannan snorted "Girl, if Geoffrey gives hiht, because he’ll be co for her I know his type"

"If he hurts her, I’ll never forgive him" If Leo ca er, Lannan shook his head "My sweet Cicely…if Geoffrey turns hiiveness Vampires have neither need nor desire for atonement I am what I am I’m a predator I’s I’ve done in ht of my beautiful sister in that house with Geoffrey…I fear for her safety, even though she’s the Emissary to the Crimson Court"

I pulled away and kicked at the rubble There was nothing else of value here "You had to You didn’t have a choice"

"Now you co one, Cicely Perhaps you’re right, perhaps not But we should go, if you are done Here coain, he was all business

We carried what bags and boxes we’d found out to the car and eased out of the driveway to head back to the warehouse that had become our temporary home All the way there, Lannan leaned over the backseat, resting a hand on , but there was nothing I could do to stop him Lannan was an ally we needed, and if I protested, he’d only find another way to screith ht now

Chapter 2

By the tiain some of my composure We made sure we hadn’t been followed as we pulled into the parking lot and drove around the back, parking behind an old school bus that had long ago seen better days

I cut the engine and leaned back, breathing a sigh of relief As ed for the Veil House, this wasin abandoned buildings, keeping one eye open as I slept Maybe I wasn’t cut out for a nor

As we carried our loot to the back entrance that Kaylin had cleverly hidden with a tangle of loose boards, a stack of old tires, and several abandoned vehicles, Peyton opened the door She’d been on the watch for us and she took one of the bags fro quarters we’d quickly pulled together for ourselves

The building had been a warehouse in better days, and the stark industrial walls were gunray, with bea the inner cha here for a while before he’d invited us in, so we had jury-rigged electricity He hadn’t wanted to draw attention by using tooa burn barrel The warehouse was big enough, the ceilings high enough, and several ere cracked and broken, so the smoke wasn’t much of a bother and it dissipated by the tirione, the rest of our little band--Peyton, Rhiannon, Luna, Chatter, and Grieve--had lined up several tables and noe spread out the contents of our goods on them Grieve ht ood way

"I orried about you I sensed…" He let his words drift off, but his gaze flickered to Lannan "Are you all right?"

Nodding, I ducked my head "I’’s okay" I leaned in, feeling Lannan watching every ainst Grieve’s soft lips He pulled me to him and I lost myself in his touch, in his kiss Grieve was my love, and no matter howto the Fae Prince with the shining stars in his eyes

A sloarainstmyself full with his scent He ser and safety all rolled into one His heart beat fast against my touch as I laid my hand on his chest Grieve was alive, and he lovedto sneak off, to drive away the cold and the snoith his touch But we couldn’t--not just yet "I feel safe with you"

"Later I promise" His words were so low that I was the only one who could hear hied so muchentlyat us, especially Lannan with his cold, dark stare, but I didn’t care I cleared avewhat she desperately wanted to hear Tiood news The Veil House isn’t nearly as far gone as we feared"

Rhiannon let out a little cry and her fingers flew to her mouth Chatter--Grieve’s friend and another of the Caently around her waist I noticed the quick sht Leo had been her way of settling She’d loved Chatter all along

"Does it really still stand?" She leaned forward, breathless "You aren’t joking?"

"I’d never joke about soe The kitchen and basement will have to be rebuilt, but ork, we can restore it However, that idea is on hold until we destroy Myst We killed two of her Shadow Hunters while ere there"

"I have another surprise" Grieve held up his hand and dashed into a side roo after a few seconds with his ar ood-sized"

"Heat! Glorious heat!" Luna rubbed her hands together as Kaylin took theed them in