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"It’s been hard for me to be without my mate," Lily said to Jesse "I’m only permitted to see him once a month--the physical distance is difficult to cope with Shawn has been there for me every step of the way" She turned back to Harley, teetering on heels way too high for anyone "We’re leaving for the prison now Are you co?"

"Jesse and I will come, but ant to speak with Clive privately"

Lily bristled "What’s wrong with having a fah that I see so little of hter" Tears welled in Lily’s eyes, but Harley steeled herself against the euilt trips and had yet to figure out that they didn’t work on Harley

"Jesse and I will see him after you and Shawn have talked with hiether "You’re as stubborn as your father"

Anger coursed through Harley and her cat She was nothing like Clive Vincent If Lily wanted to be blind to the reality of who and what he was, fine But Harley had no intention of joining her in the city of denial

Did Harley conde the humans who’d attacked her brother? Not at all But he didn’t do it out of soul-wrenching grief; he did it because he liked to dole out pain Hell, he’d hurt Michael himself on a few occasions, even broke his ar but ridicule hi people, physically and emotionallylike they were toys put on the earth for his amusement

He had never hurt Harley and, for soe sort of pride in her rejection of him She’d never quite understood that Maybe he just liked that she saw him as he was In any case, Lily only saw in Clive what she wanted to see Lily refused to remember the times when he had hit her,Harley’s mood darken, Jesse slid his hand around her nape His wolf pushed against his skin, wanting to rub up against her "Feel free to leave without us," he told their visitors "Harley and I will catch up" The words were pleasant but the "fuck off" was clear in his tone

Shawn looked about to argue, but then he took in the sight of all the Mercury wolves closing in and seemed to think better of it He inclined his head "Fine" He urged a sullen Lily to a small and particularly shabby one

No one spoke, as if at a loss for what to say Then Roni whistled "Wow And I thought o see Clive another day if you want," Jesse told Harley

She inhaled deeply "I’d rather just get it over with"

"All right"

"Zander and Bracken will follow you there," said Nick "It’ll be better to have two vehicles in case someone tries to strike at you"

Zander rubbed at his jaw "Lily is ave a wan smile "Yeah, she’s actually et the feeling that you’re as close to Shawn as he seems to think," said Shaya