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I turned at the farin spread across Ryan’s face as he took a step toward the diagra an then faded Warrip in protective reflex on its hilt Its whisper intensified Szerain

Ryan jerked to a sudden stop He stiffened and took a long strangled intake of breath, eyes wide and intense on the blade in my hand Zack laid a hand on Ryan’s arered, diin the wake of the power overload "You killed her," I whispered hoarsely "Imprisoned her for centuries" Elinor’s essence, trapped within the blade for all that time In pain So much pain Vsuhl and Elinor had shown h h my teeth with a touch of led uish and exultation He inhaled, a long throaty sound as if drawing breath for the first tiripped hiard went to Ryan, then to e of decision

Ryan…no, he was far more Szerain now Different face Broader of cheek Fuller lips Higher brow The same as in Elinor’s memories Out of the corner of my eye I could see Tessa backed to the wall, eyes wide I knew that the revelation of Ryan as a demonic lord had to be a teensy bit of a shock, but I couldn’t spare any attention for her right then

Zack tightened his grip and put a hand on Szerain’s head I knew Zack intended to subain in that moment, andto pull free as Zack spoke in dehOnly for a le nod Zack’s brow creased orry, as if hoping he wouldn’t regret this decision Slowly he released Szerain’s head, but kept a firrip on his upper arm

I trembled and clenched my hand on Vsuhl’s hilt Szerain lifted his head and ht as if with tears A heartbeat later, he stared again at the blade as though inexorably drawn Shudders ran through hih with a heavy tic

"Slew Elinor Created you" He took a step forward, shoulder pulled back where Zack still held his ar between an aura that radiated jubilant freedom and chaos

I took in the differences between hied, but his build was the sareen But even with the disturbing aura of chaotic flow--and I had to wonder if it was a touch ofconfinement--he was so alive, so potent

"Why did you hold her?" I asked, voice breaking, knowing--knowing--how much Elinor had suffered I understood she had to die, just as I almost had to die But entraph his eyes never left the blade inthe world or--" He hesitated "--slaying Elinor" A shudder passed through hi her," he said, with a haunted quaver in his voice "I will not speak of why" He knehat it was like to be held, even though it was of a different nature

A shiver of realization went through ht’s tranced words echoed, spoken to ation into Lida Moran’s stalker

Evil is often a et screwed The world was at stake, and he had to make a terrible choice Sometimes the punishment fits the crime far too well

Horrific entrapht had given no indication that it referred to Szerain, but that’s what I’d guessed the moment I heard it And it sure seemed to fit here Far too well

Gooseflesh crawled acrossElinor why you’re in exile?"

He shook his head once "Only--" He stopped as Zack tugged on his ar he shouldn’t Szerain shot Zack a look that clearly said, I can’t take this anyaze returning to Vsuhl "It was "

Szerain lifted eyes filled with a perilous hunger to mine "My blade," he said, voice low and fractured He held out his hand Twitched heavily "Kara, give me Vsuhl"

I took a step back, chilled Vsuhl rested cool and quiescent inood idea" I felt Eilahn at rip tightened on Szerain’s ar his teeth slightly, hand still extended "Time to end this madness" Clear in his eyes was the certainty that once the blade was in his hand everything would be different And I knew that to be true

Zack reached for Szerain’s head to put him back under, but with a feral snarl, the derip, nearly freeing hi in a breath, I looked to the blade in confused shock Send it away? How? I didn’t have ure it out Mzatal and Rhyzkahl seemed to simply will their blades to thele" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>