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Lucien turned to Grant "Tonight, I am your squire," he said He looked back to his wife "Jade… ?"

"They’re secure," she told him

"Come on--they’re prepared for you"

"The sword is in the car," Grant said

"I’otten it for you," Lucien said

They walked out The crowd parted for Grant So the villagers heft the plates on hi the leather straps and fasteners He heard the clank of metal as Lucien and Dreere likewise attired

Merc came forith the sword

As Grant stood there, he was startled to hear a whisper in his ear Reggie’s voice "I’oodness and life, I swear it!"

Startled, he swung around Reggie was nowhere near hi at Lucien

"Gone"

"I heard her--she said that she is with us," Grant said

"She’s a sorceress," Lucien reood, or bad, she is part of this battle, and in the end, we’ll know the truth"

"In the end?" Drew said weakly

Grant saw the horse that had been brought for hie black that had drawn the hearse that afternoon

He mounted with ease--thanks to a life in theater and film He turned the horse, ready to start for the hills

"Wait, wait!" Drew called out Grant looked back Dreas pale, and hobbling along as he tried to hed down by the armor "Ah, come on! I’ve been in improv… and comedy I never worked for a horse farm, I wasn’t a stunt about ly, Grant realized that he could sht?"

"I think so," Lucien said, watching Drew and nodding slowly "It’s what’s inside the man that matters," he told Grant

"It’s tilish fine

It was then that they heard the first howling

A sound that was unearthly, as if all the des," Lucien said

Every hair on Grant’s body see, horrible in its eeriness

He spurred his horse

Stephanie was up there, somewhere in the hills

Chapter 18

"Kill me now," Stephanie said She stared coolly at François, since it seemed she had control of her own eyes, and no irl? Kill you… oh, I would not You are not Valeria, you know I control you completely"

"Why? Have I died already?"

He shook his head, s, amused, and lifted her hair from her shoulders She couldn’t pull ahen he pressed his lips to her neck She felt the slide of his tongue… his breath

The rasp of his teeth against her flesh

To her horror, she felt a faint stirring of…

Exciteainst her flesh "I’ve had just the ame with you… I enjoy my meals when they’re awake, you see Ah, poor child, but you’re a great deal like Valeria was… once I teased you in your drea, and yet… you knew, I think, that it was me"

Grant

She closed her eyes And she could see hier than life And she saw him as he was His smile The darkness in his eyes, when they filled with passion The way he walked to her, so aggressive in his confidence, beautiful in his nakedness, supple in movement She was in love with hinoring his touch, "I think you tried to enter my dreams, but could not, because I will always see hiainst her flesh

"You are mine," he told her "I haven’t taken your petty h of your life’s blood to see that you will obey s You will raise thes? I don’t even knohat they are"

He rose, irritated He looked around the cave

So He looked at Stephanie, and slance annoyed François, because he snapped out, "Has she come?"

"Not yet, my lord"

"My lord!" Stephanie echoed

"It is what you will call me, too," he infor her to her feet Her limbs felt like lead She couldn’t resist his! It’s in your power Raise them, now! All of theht Now Think of theround Those that carip on her arnore it

"It’s time--oh, I have waited, anticipated this day!" François said "The horses, now!" he co turned without question to obey, just as he had been ordered

François stared at her, let out a cry of rage, and walked to her, falling on his knees before her "Do you knohat I can do to you? Do you know I can begin to s I need thean to believe, as it had been before