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As many times as Nola had been chained and used in her life, she knew the hu Heanother Aainst every instinct Nola possessed, every rule she'd ever been taught, but she would have sliced the warrioress to pieces if she'd been able to grip a blade Zane's eyes had been so wild, his snarls desperate And she'd been unable to aid him, had only been able to watch in horror

"I will take his place," she shouted to the ceiling, not knowing if the gods were listening Or if they even cared Zane didn't deserve this No one did But at least she had endured servitude before The women wouldn't rape her, of course, but they would work her and beat her, both of which she could survive

Air sucked through Zane's nostrils, and his body suddenly jerked Then he began struggling against his bonds again Her attention whipped to hi into her

"Zane," she said, rushing to his side and kneeling "Shh, now Shh You'll only injure your wrists and ankles further" Already he was bleeding, losing the blood he'd just been given

He tracked her every movement

Could heno Not possible No matter how many times she'd wished otherwise, she'd remained as unnoticeable as the air he breathed Besides, if he knew she was here, he would be fighting her as he'd fought Amelia Perhaps even more violently How many times, before this terrible punishment, had she rebuked his advances? Tried to hurt hihtened of her feelings I a an Aainst his shoulder until the material fell away from his mouth "Nola," he rasped "Nola, Nola, Nola"

He could see her Oh, gods Oh, gods! Could she touch hi to brush his hair froh him She moaned in frustration

He laughed, the sound full of sweet satisfaction "I've finally slipped over the edge of sanity and I don't care" He relaxed against the blankets spread out beneath him "My Nola, here to comfort h her Oh, if only"You aren't i me, Zane I'm truly here I've been here since the day of your arrival"

Zane didn't see her in "Of course I would iine you like this, soft and lush, but still not ods cursed me, as they cursed you, only I am not to be seen, heard or felt" Until now Why, hy could she now be seen and heard but still not felt?

Finally, her words seeht against his teeth, revealing the tips of those deadly fangs "How can I see you now, then?" he asked, h Would others be able to see her, as well?

"So Another curse is to be heaped upon me To see, but never to touch" He turned his head from her, as if he couldn't bear to look at her another second That was the treatment she'd expected from him, but it still hurt You deserve it Take it like a warrior

At least he no longer thought himself crazy

"Why aren't you with Brand?" he deon shape-shifter who had been cursed right alongside them "I don't" What? She liked Brand, but she wasn't concerned with his treatht his captivity like Zane He had eht of an A for hi more than a maid for her Since she'd released hih, he'd looked nothing but content

But even if he had not been enjoying himself, Nola still would have chosen to watch over Zane His strength and determination, and even his wildness, drew her