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Ryodan stood as far froroup, near enough to the black hole that his shirt was fluttering in the wind, his stance rigid I thought of the brand Dani wore and suspected last night had been difficult for him I wondered just how much he’d felt of her passion, her pleasure, and love for Dancer Ryodan glanced at Dani and his gaze went from her face to their joined hands He smiled faintly but it didn’t reach his eyes They remained ancient, cold, eaze to me then and spoke inside my mind If I don’t make it, help her rescue Shaza-else-has-priority Swear it

I nodded

Take care of her

Always

And tell her not to vibrate on the kid His heart can’t handle it It generates a subtle electrical charge

I blinked Well, I hadI nodded again and he looked swiftly away

Christian I ed as if to say, I never thought it was going to get better anyway Then he threw back his dark head and laughed

Dani shot hily

How Christian had changed Hoe’d all changed Keeping the best parts, letting the worst drop away

I looked at Barrons

It was entirely possible in a very short ti here

Barrons glided toward me in that eerie, fluid fashion, stopped and laced our hands together

We would hold on to each other until the last

Sun, moon, and stars, I told him

He inclined his head Of all the years, this one with you has been my finest Fire to my ice, Mac

Frost to my flame, Jericho

Forever, we said, and it was a vow faror piece of paper

There was nothing more to say If we hadn’t said it already, we’d fucked up and no reparations could be made at this late hour