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He paused, and when he turned, I could see how much he wanted to scream at me He stalked back over, Molly’s arrip When he reached me, he was technically hue in my territory?" he said sarcastically "She didn’t kill a bunch of rich white girls in the h-profile university?" Molly flinched away from him, equal parts asha h-profile, but occasionally even I can make a smart decision "So weak even to me

He blanched for a moment, then shook his head "Iave me an irritated look "There are two va The one who o, by her" He didn’t actually say "you idiot," but the implication was there "Then there’s the vampire who holds her troth," he continued, "and that isI aerously

Troth was an oath of service, made to a cardinal vampire It was almost impossible to break "No, but--"

He pulled his trump card I should have expected hiirls was a Friend of the Witches?"

Whatever I was about to yell died before it reached my lips Molly’s face was as shocked as I felt Witches are the only Old World species who are allowed to talk a little bit about what they are Friends of the Witches are human families who have helped the witch community at some point and earned a sort of protected status They’re like an endangered species in a game park

"I didn’t know," Molly wailed "She never wore an anti-vampire charm!"

"Maybe she didn’t think she had to," Dashiell said coldly "And now, if I don’t come down hard on Molly, Kirsten will be irate, as she should be That family was supposed to have protection" He rounded onMolly’s arest out of LA County Do you have any idea how much trouble you’d be in if the Luparii found out what you’ve done tonight?"

Before I could answer, Molly swung her body around to face hi down her cheeks "Please, let ive her a hug" Her voice broke, and so about her actually made Dashiell pause for a moment He wasn’t used to human e young girl

Molly saw his hesitation and took advantage, taking one careful step to close the gap between us Dashiell let her slip her arrasp, but hovered a foot away

Molly threw her arms around my waist, her head turned so her mouth was nearmy eyes, but in my peripheral vision I could still see Dashiell relax just a bit, allowing this "You gotta be understanding to Eli," Molly added, in a voice so quiet that I wasn’t sure he would hear her Then I felt her shove so small intoJesse out of that hole you left hirabbed Molly’s upper ar all three of us Dashiell and I both stared at her "I threatened her protégé Corry," Molly said, her voice gaining strength "I said I’d kill the girl if Scarlett didn’t drive me here"

Dashiell raised a skeptical eyebrow and turned to me "Is this true?"

I stood there withMolly’s grave any deeper, nor did I want to expose her for lying "What are you going to do to her?" I asked, desperate to change the subject

"Put her on trial," he said over his shoulder as he dragged Molly off into the night, tugging her out ofclosed "You’re lucky I don’t do the same to you"