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Hold You have to hold

I felt another ele a purer signature to it If I could only outlast the rest, I et the na to run me down

Even that cold co harder now, as I pulled all the power out ofhold of one shockingly fast, and without David’s help, even Ih

I felt soive way, and h hed, and felt warmth spray out of my mouth

"No," David whispered "Ashanplease"

Ashan didn’t speak, not even to refuse

Another eleainst me broke with an almost physical shock I could count them now: three Three of theer than I was Stronger than I could ever hope to be

My legs gave out I fell to my knees, hardly felt the impact Part of the carpet was on fire now, and none of the Djinn were reacting to the e off, and knew that I was on the verge of creating yet another disaster, one that could clai around th With that last drop of power, I pushed back Two of the three attackers dropped away, surprised by ression, and I saw the last one clearly

On the aetheric, he burned a brilliant white, less a person than a star bound in human form I couldn’t see his features, but I could see where he was, in the instant before he cut off his attack and disappeared into the boiling mass of confusion stirred up by the attack like the smoke in the apartment

I’d won

I pitched forward to hing and wheezing My ht up s, too weak to savehold aroundNo You can’t die now You won!

Winning isn’t everything You need to have so left, in the end, to move on This was the very definition of a Pyrrhic victory

I realized that I was staring at David, still on his knees, held pinned and helpless by Ashan His face was the color of ashes, and his eyes an unholy, almost demonic red, consumed with pain and pent-up fury

"She survived," Ashan said, and I heard a note of pure surprise in his voice I felt a surge of power h the apartain Noeyes, the curtain knitted itself into its original unburned form, and the carpet healed itself

That wasn’t David’s doing I could tell that he was blocked by Ashan here, couards wouldn’t have dared take that kind of initiative, which left only the last person I’d have ever expected to doat htful eyes I couldn’t read his expression I was too tired to even try

"Go on and finish me off," I said hoarsely "I can’t stop you"

"I know," he said It was the first time I’d heard him speak with such a level tone, no trace of hate or conteht well Almost like a Djinn But you’re not a Djinn anyain" After another pause, I thought I heard hio and stepped back David didn’t hesitate Ashan ceased to exist for hiathered h ency, and I shuddered and buried ainst his neck

"Jo?" He whispered it with his lips against my skin His hands were everywhere on me, frantic, protective "I’ up, and whether they were shock or relief or the delayed effects of fear, I couldn’t tell I didn’t have any defenses left, not even against myself I wanted to lie down on my side, curl up, and weep myself into unconsciousness in his embrace, but instead, I lifted hed about a hundred pounds - and focused on Ashan His expression was closed and still, but I thought I saw so in it that hadn’t been there before

"It was necessary, you know," he said "Necessary you stop before it’s too late" Which wasn’t an apology, but the fact that he felt corowled, deep in his throat, and I stilled hi at Ashan

"Thank you I won’t expect it again," I said I saw a flash in his cool eyes, and he bent his head a fraction of an inch

And then he e of stares froer

One faded in Venna, still in black I curled closer to David, taking coth of his e all over, and couldn’t seem to stop It wasn’t just physical injury I’d come close, so desperately close - in soile now than I ever had, despite the fact that I’d won

I wouldn’t have wanted to show so much vulnerability to Ashan, but it was different with Venna She’d seen ments, not in the way that Ashan would

I felt the soft touch of her hand stroking my hair

"You had to win alone," Venna said "I am sorry I couldn’t help It was a huulped air and nodded David wasn’t so understanding He let out that low, vicious growl again, and Venna sat back on her heels, clearly taking the warning very seriously I couldn’t tell if it angered her, but I doubted it She seemed to understand his desperation

She studied the two of us with a sorrowful and coel "Your enemies are ht"

I croaked, "Who? Who are they?"

"You know," she said, and stood up "You knew before, and you will again You saw him You just won’t allow yourself to see"

I reached out and grabbed her hand She looked down, frowning a little, and pulled free without any difficulty - but she did it gently "I hope you survive And I hope - I hope you are happy"

I laughed hollowly "I hope so, too I don’t suppose we can count on you for a little help along those lines?"

Venna raised her eyebrows "What do you expect?"

Nothing, I supposed

Which was, as Venna perforot