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She kissed him a moment before the Hollow reached for her and yanked her back into its wide vortex of a ht out of Roth’s arms

Roth shoved himself back up to his feet and stared at the vortex as if stunned and transfixed "She isn’t dead" His voice broke "Not yetshe was still breathing!"

"Bishop--do so to--" But I couldn’t finish an to run toward the Hollow as if ready to jurabbed for him and yanked him back just in time Roth turned around and slao of me! I have to save her!"

"No!" Bishop yelled back at hiled hard, but Kraven was also there to help restrain him, and Connor, too It took the three of them to pull the demon back from the Hollow

A few horrible moments later, the vortex closed and silence fell

Cassandra was gone She’d saved the city froel Her sister And the full truth about her real mission was one that broke my heart

It was a suicide mission fro

Roth believed she was still alive when the Hollow took her, but I’d seen that dagger The Hallowed Blade--the only weapon capable of killing an angel or a demon--hadn’t missed her heart She was dead

Roth fell silent and still Finally, the others let go of him

"Roth," Connor said uneasily "I’m sorry I had no idea that you and Cassandra"

"Shut up"

"Let’s go get a drink," Kraven suggested "A real one None of this kiddie stuff"

"No Leave lare I’d ever seen on the rest of us

"You cared for her," Bishop said "We all did"

He scowled "I don’t knohat you’re talking about Stupid angel getting in all of our ways I’one"

Without another word, Roth shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans and started walking away

I didn’t need to read his uish ritten all over his face

Bishop picked up the dagger froround and stared at the blade for a few rim