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The others aiting iot back into town Greta had fallen asleep curled up next to Dayne, and a few of the others seemed like they were about to drop as well About a hundred of his de theuarded Tam, and some who apparently didn’t think she was all that bad Either that, or they understood the value of stopping Jack before the world slipped into complete chaos

Cain cleared his throat, and a few of those who had been snoozing sat up "I’ to need everybody to rest or feed Whatever you need to do to replenish The vaave up Jack’s location as well as other inforht"

"To to let hi, and Cain continued, used to the woht hiht He has to start the ritual It’ll be his one weakher power He’ll be unable to defend himself, and that’s e’ll all strike"

He worked to keep his face indifferent It had becoht not kill her before the fullto her in the ht like to do with his for her He’d lose the battle and the war if he did Still, the de more than to blaze in and rip the bastard’s head off

"If he’ll be so weak, why does it take us all?" Anthony snarked, not happy with having to play theto go in and annihilate hi him down, but it’ll take a lot to kill him There are only tays they die for real, by the hand of one of their own, or by a very strong and old preternatural being, using their power I can throw a bunch of fire at hiirl demons want to fuck hi as The Cycler had become, odds were bad any of his succubi could successfully do it, anyway

"So thatto need demons to throw distractions at hiic users to block hi the ritual, but he won’t be dead I don’t want tohi we’d catch or stop hiames"

Anthony looked like he was going to protest again, but instead he sighed and said, "I’ll gather soic users"

"So you don’t need us?" Cole asked

"You’re welcome to join us," Cain said, "but I don’t need any shifters in this fight Therians can stay out of this if they like"

"What about Jane?"

The de, and olvesanyway "She can sit this one out, too"

"I want you to stay at the penthouse until we get back," Dayne said to his werecat

"Fine by me," Greta said "But be careful Don’t be on the front lines"

"I can’t make promises," the sorcerer said

In reality, Cain’s plan was probably overkill, but he was taking no chances when it cas for her He’d deal with that--or go back to denial--when she was safe He was sure they’d have a screaain

Chapter Fifteen

The light fro at the top of the cavern Jack had tied her down and was getting all his carving tools and ht pouring in fro "Just like old times" He whistled a jaunty tune as he lined up his knives "I would say ‘this won’t hurt a bit,’ but there should be honesty between us in these last athered saliva in her hed

"Nice try But we’ve et the ht The moon only needs to in" He was more chipper than she’d seen him since he’d taken her For theher in a cage while she slept, but lared--still not over the de

She’d hoped she’d dream about Cain, but no dreams had come Did that h since he’d done it Maybe her shields were blocking it Maybe he’d done it wrong and they really had no true bond She didn’t knohy it mattered so much to her, but she hadn’t dreamed at all There had been no respite while with Jack Maybe he was keeping Cain’s dreams away from her out of his own jealousy

Would dreams have been better or worse? Was there a softer side of Cain she could have seen? Hadn’t she started to see it already?

She cringed as Jack put a hand on her ar about your boyfriend He’s a deo I’ll oing, then I’ll start the chant Once I’ve absorbed all theYou’ll probably be alive for at least part of that Sorry It’s just how these things o, I’m afraid"

He didn’t look the least bit sorry

She winced as he took a ss, and torso This was really happening A part of her hadn’t believed it would So or soh her at Cain for letting this happen--for not killing her when he had the chance