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"I can protect you," he said

"I knew that, too"

"I’ to tease hiuess what I can run on a treadhing, he placed another kiss on her mouth And then, for the second tihit had been rusty, but hearty Ragged, but gorgeous

Would she ever get used to hisinto her sister’s bedroo Still

"You didn’t come to the workout room," she said

"Sorry, sorry," Laila replied "I lost track of tiht of two littleover Laila’s shoulders They spotted Nicola and grinned sly

She strode forward, but they ducked down Laila seemed to have no idea Nicola walked a circle around her, searching, but there was no longer any sign of the creatures

A sense of urgency hit her "Pick so at all I’ll do it with you The constant anxiety has to end now"

"I just I need to think"

"About what?"

"Everything! We’re so weak, Nicola Both of us"

"I’er every day, and you could be, too Ifor us We have the power and protection of the Most High"

"You say that, but" Laila scrubbed at her face "What if He doesn’t respond next time?"

"He will"

"How can you be so sure?"

"I just know it, deep inside" Somehow, Nicola maneuvered her sister into the bed and tucked the covers around her "If you won’t do soive your , think about everything I’ve said It’s the truth"

"All right"

"Promise?"

"Promise" Laila closed her eyes, and Nicola stroked her face the way their mother used to do to them At first, her sister’s expression was pinched, her body restless, unable to settle But as one minute drifted into another, she settled down When her breathing finally evened out, Nicola stood and strode to her own roo to look her best when Koldo returned--and give hi to rip off her But she waitedand waitedand he never showed up

After a while, the rays of sunlight seeping from the s lulled her into the backyard The air arm, perfect and scented ildflowers, citrus and pine She breathed deeply, savoring

Bang Bang

A , Nicola hurried to the little shack Koldo and Axel had built There were no s, and seemed to be no doorway

"Help ain, clearer this ti Enough to give Nicola chills It was a purity she recognized, since both Axel and the one named Zacharel possessed it

Was this female a Sent One? The lover Nicola had been so certain Koldo didn’t have?

"Who are you?" she called, palpating the walls for any kind of seam

"Help me Please! Let me out"

Why had Koldo placed the woman in the shack? He wasn’t a cruelHe was a man who had never hurt her--had even beat the man who had He was a ht not be able to protect her He was a man who made her feel safe in his arms

He was a man she trusted

But she didn’t know or trust the woain the woht? Yes?"

The desperation arranted The evasion was not Could she be a serial killer? Or working with the deed into the wall "Now!"

Nicola nibbled on her bottom lipand backed away

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

KOLDO WATCHED as Zacharel landed at the edge of Gers tucked into the warrior’s back, and an unexpected pang of envy hit Koldo--as always He had to stop feeling this way, but oh, what could have been He wasn’t sos happened because people had free will

Of course, he did believe soood The loss of his wings, however? He couldn’t i froood could have come from that, either Hoould he have traveled? Hoould he have survived? He was grateful he had healed