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"I have ears," he replied drily "I heard" But why hadn’t she done the same to Zacharel?

"And she actually believes in her success," Thane continued, bewildered

"You do not have to sound so i the idea on any level Impressed, Thane would desire the fe to have her

Thane frowned at him "I’m simply curious And, very well, I will ask what is not my business Why have you claimed her as your own if you plan to leave her here?"

"I have not claih

"Then why have you spread your essentia all over her?"

"I have not touched her"

"And yet her skin bears your tinge"

"Not mine" Essentia, a substance that swirled inside each of their bodies, soh the pores of their hands to beco them to claim any object they considered their exclusive property Demons produced a similar substance, only theirs was tainted

Zacharel’s attention whipped to the female "I have never clai to do so "She does not glow" He saw nothing out of the ordinary about her skin

She watched him unabashedly, and he nearly shifted on his feet Hi Inconceivable!

"I prolea to other s to you"

Hiirl interrupted "I’er sucks! Just forget that I’m here Oh, wait You already have So here’s an idea--leave"

She hadnot to be impressed, or baffled, himself "Go," he said to his warrior "I want you andin my cloud No, strike that Not you Go and find every detail about this human that you can" A need to learnat hi it

"Whatever you say, glorious leader" Thane stalked froirl one final glance, causing Zacharel’s hands to clench into fists How le day, when before he’d gone years without doing it once?

"If you want to know about me," she snapped the moment she was alone with Zacharel, "you could have just asked ive you the chance to lie?"

Hurt cascaded over her features, but only for a second Pride took its place, and reood liar, and you’re Mr Truth So why are you here, Mr Truth? I’m pretty clear on the fact that it’s not to save or free me"

There was no reason not to tell her "I was told to destroy the horde of de"

A beat of panic "Horde, as in arer any type of threat My arainst theht?"

"Yes"

Another beat of panic before she sagged against the bed "But why me?"

She had no idea what had been done to her None at all Yet she would have reed toher, Zacharel clai on the floor, the one the doctor had dropped, and riffled through the pages

She banged her head against her pillow once, twice "Fine Pretend I’lorious leader, allow h the little details, since even a liar liketo allow him to respond, she added, "To start, my name is Annabelle Miller"

The truth, confirmed in the notes Annabelle Latin for loveable "I am called Zacharel" Not that it mattered

"Well, Zachie, I--"

"Glorious leader," he rushed out "Youyou that," she said, despite the fact that she had already done so, "but enough about your exalted opinion of yourself I’m here because I killed lanced up, watched another of those tremors rock her Perhaps he should fetch her a blanket

Fetch her a blanket? Seriously? His frown returned Her comfort did not concern him "So you were told? You do not re in place

"Oh, I remember" The bitterness returned to her voice, thicker now "I watched a creature…a demon do it, tried to stop him, tried to save them, and when I told the authorities what had really happened, I was deemed criain, he knew she spoke truthfully Not just because the details she hout the pages in the folder--though none of her doctors had believed her--but because he tasted only the rose and bergaile, delicate flavors he liked Odd He’d never cared for scents or tastes before They hat they were, and he’d had no preference