Page 63 (1/2)

Esh the underbrush until she was certain she was safe Then she surged to her feet and ran blindly, her crossbow forgotten on the daathered and clotted in her throat Es

A hand shot out lightning-quick, halting her abruptly Adarip on her neck

"Where have you been, lovely whore?" His eyes were preternaturally bright

She panted into his face

Adalowered and shook her cruelly "I said, where have you been?"

When she still didn’t answer, Adam slid his hand up her neck to her throat and squeezed "Your lifeto ly, Es Adam to save the man she loved, to use his unnatural powers and restore his life

So she knew his identity He wasn’t surprised The Rom ell versed in the ancient ways "If you knoho I aive a damn about your wishes--or anyone else’s, for that matter And I certainly don’t care about your pretty Hawk In fact, the Hawk is the son of a bitch I came here to destroy"

Esmerelda paled

"Come," he commanded And she knew he didn’t mean it the way he used to Not anymore

CHAPTER 20

WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE DOESN’T WANT TO SEE ME? I WANT to see hiiven you orders that he specifically doesn’t want me to come in the room," she added coolly Haould never do that

Grie

"He wouldn’t! You can’t be serious H-he …" She trailed off uncertainly The Haouldn’t refuse Well, he hadn’t yet, but …

Obdurate Grirave, blocked the door