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Smoky let out a harsh cry "I cannot stand that he touched you! That he violated not only your body but your mind!"

"He didn’t rape et him out of your mind Both attacks were violations--and in no way do I believe that he couldn’t stop hi after your skirts since the beginning"

S

"You’re my wife--Trillian’s wife Morio’s wife I share you with them because it is what it is But I refuse to share you with anyone else I won’t share you with soic and your mind You are a priestess! He should have had respect for you How can you defend hi, I reached out to slap hiht my wrist and held it taut Sets aith har you No one Do you understand?" His voice was thick, and he reeked ofto me We are paired Mated I should carry you off to a dreyerie I should keep you as a queen"

I could feel the energy of his dragon self rising around hih with it this ti with Trillian and Morio--terrified h, with all the testosterone, but Son And a thousand times more stubborn

"Smoky I love you Please, believe ot the short end of the stick I’oddess She did so far worse to him than kill him She stripped him of his very nature"

Sain, his voice was barely contained "Go Give ht If you stay here, I will find hio to ht now or all I want to do is hunt down the de and destroy hi to the ray of hope he offered Trillian didn’t touch me as I walked by, but he whispered, "I’ll try to talk to him Best if you clear out for an hour or so"

"Morio--?"

"He’ll be okay Just go, ry and afraid and in tears, Trillian turned to Sot downstairs, I hurried into the kitchen "Did Vanzir get out of here?"

Delilah nodded, her eyes wide Shade looked like he was ready to tackle so ht youfro ready to leave for a little while All it would take is one wrong word frooing to take a walk I need to get out of here, but I don’t want to drive anywhere" I hunted in the laundry roo skirt--which Iris had washed--and one of Delilah’s turtlenecks It was too tight, especially around the bust, and I stretched it all out of proportion, but I’d buy her a new one Throwing my cape over avewill be okay Vanzir took off He took the Chevy" We’d bought a couple of spare cars for the guys to use--not as pretty as ours, but serviceable

"Good But Smoky could trace hiet too cold, I’ll hang out at the studio" We’d turned a large shed on the property into a studio for Shamas, Roz, and Vanzir to sleep in Occasionally, I sent et theht to myself

As Shade walkedto fade Late afternoon ht as well be dusk--the shortest day of the year was barely a week away As andered into the twilight, I prayed to the Moon Mother that things would calm down I’d never fully trusted Vanzir, but I knew he hadn’t hurt es when I knew it had truly been circumstance and not premeditation at play

Shade cocked his head to one side "Give hio--" I started to protest, but he held up one hand

"You ons He wasn’t there to protect you You were hurt You didn’t tell hi head He ht still have wanted to kill Vanzir, but he wouldn’t have been so angry at you He feels humiliated that he could not keep his family safe Hell, I feel responsible for you, too, and you are not even my mate You are ine how much worse your husband feels?"

Shade and I reached the driveway "Sht of anyone hurting you drives hionit is the way"

I nodded "Yeah, I think I’et I’, stubborn on suit Not even a Fae in a dragon suit"

"Exactly Noould you like ht not be wise should he coon at your sideeven though I’h I think you need a hug My shed then, and I smiled for the first time in what seemed like forever

"No, I’ll be fine We have the wards up Delilah will co happens I could use a little tio look for Vanzir I’ll try to help hih this without a problem"