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The walk back to the car was interminable, and the drive home seemed to take forever We were all exhausted Camille conked out in the back, her head on Menolly’s shoulder Vanzir sat apart from them, silent

Morio was zonked out, too, next to S, and I sat in the front, next to hiht, I watched his hands on the steering wheel I was tired--exhausted, really--but I was also hyped up on adrenaline Sleeping would be difficult I leaned closer to hilanced at me, then back at the road "Are you sure?"

I nodded

"What about Chase?"

Taking a deep breath, I forced the air out of s and said, "This is ht, if you’ll have me" My voice trembled a little Would he still want me, after all this time and frustration? I wouldn’t blaet involved

But Zach merely smiled "Delilah, I alant you Never worry about that" And it was set

We rode in silence until we arrived home, and then Smoky and Menolly set off for the portal with the spirit seal Caical work to help, and I was just too beat in general

The lights were on in the living rooh we had told her not to As we caave her a slow smile and a nod

"We found the seal, and it’s on its way toits new ho about Queen Asteria in front of Vanzir

Roz seemed to sense my hesitation, because he clapped Vanzir on the shoulder "Let’s go We’ll hole up at the local dive I’ve taken a sublet on for the ht Call us toot my cell phone with me"

As aved them out of the house, Camille shook her head "Need sleep I’m about to crash Morio’s not o to bed" Dragging themselves up the stairs, ht

"Delilah, before you go up, there was a call for you while you were out" Iris handedthe food with a little too ency" I tapped Zach on the shoulder "Go on up and wait for ly left the room

Iris shook her head "It wasn’t Chase," she said, frowning "It was Sharah, and she said it was iency?"

"No," she said slowly, then frowned "But she sounded worried You’re not going to call her back?"

"Toain Meanwhile, I’azillion hours," I said, running ha whole lotover ," I added

Iris smiled slowly "We live in troubled times, Delilah Don’t deny yourself the luxury of couilt You and Chase have a great deal to talk over again before you can make any final decisions, but until then, if I were you, I’d consider ent Not sure I liked that terave her a peck on the cheek and headed upstairs to thefor me with open arms

CHAPTER 18

As I approached ic Man," by Heart Zacharyto the playlist onon theseat inhung over the edge, and he tapped the floor with his foot, keeping ti out the , his regal profile fralow from the hallway behind me When he looked at me, his mouth beckoned, full and sensual, and the dusty su his collar

I caught my breath as the scent of his leather jacket flooded my nose Even beneath the dusty coat, I could see every outline of e of his puma self up on theup the rocks by his side ran through rowled in recognition

It had been a long tiether without a chaperone I slowlythe bed, keenly aware of the covers falling to the floor, of stepping over my pajamas and the other dirty clothes that lay scattered around the edge He swung his head towardas I approached

As I closed the distance between us, I thought about Chase I could still stop before I screwed things up even further I could call hi him to talk to o find Erika and kick her butt and scare the hell out of her

But I didn’t want to do any of those things