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"A robe cleans its wearer froht now you are cleaner than you have ever been"

"Oh That’s cool" And that response was laether "Iability when you were injured" I just didn’t put two and two together

"Perhaps you should change into your new clothes"

"I think I will" Just not the way he probably thought

He’d set the bags at the entrance She dug through each one until she found what she wanted Then, the same way she had stripped out of her leather, with the robe shielding her, she now dressed

"Unfair," she thought she heard Zacharel mutter

Only when her new bra and panties, T-shirt, jeans and boots were in place--and she had successfully cut through the pockets for easy access to the blades still strapped to her legs--did she finally reaze roved over her froain "I approve And now you will eat" He carried a plate to the small wooden table, sat down and motioned for her to join him

"And ill talk," she said

"Of course"

She’d rill her for inforht back Why a cave? Why the sex toys? The answer to the first: because The answer to the second: because

So inforel

She shifted uncomfortably Neither of their chairs possessed a back, and while she felt like she would fall backward every time shehis

"The de for her to take another bite out of the most delicious sandwich she’d ever eaten Soft,with sweet and spicy flavors "What did he look like?"

"What if I said ugly, and left it at that?" Two could play the reticent gaht so" She chewed, sed, trying not to picture the beast that had haunted her nighthtest quaver in her tone, she described the red eyes, the hus The smooth, crimson skin, the horns that protruded from his spine The tail that had curled into a metal spike

All the while Zacharel frowned See? His default expression

"That could be any number of demons, but definitely not the one who dictated which demons could and could not enter your institution Still, ill find Burden, talk to him"

Burden What a terrible name "He’ll be honest with you?"

"With a little persuasion, perhaps But so apart the lie"

"As long as you’re sure And just so you know, I can handle danger Don’t even think about leaving h that failed to hide the green fla life "I could absolutely leave you behind, Annabelle, and there’s nothing you could do to stop me"

"I could hate you," she seethed "Well, not hate you, since I now refuse to hate anyone, but I could be very angry with you!"

"And you think that would bother me?" Such a calmly uttered question, as if he didn’t care about the answer

But he did care, and there was no hiding that fact Not any longer He wanted her body, had tried to demand it as payment, and when she’d said no, he’d decided to settle for her kisses

I don’t have to be nervous about our bargain, she realized, startled, awed Happy He was so desperate to have her, he would take anything he could get Even scraps

"A little tip for you, Winged Wonder Don’t threaten the woman you want to seduce" See Annabelle take control

He reached out, gently brushed his fingertip along her collarbone "If ityour life, I’ll do h Best you realize that now, rather than crying foul later"

The touch, slight though it had been and even blocked by cotton, electrified her See Zacharel take control away from her "I want a man to be my equal, notheavily to his side "I will never be your equal I will always be stronger, faster"

Better?

Yes, there was that, wasn’t there, she thought, that shot of confidence fizzling completely The sandwich see a lead ball "I’m not sure why you’d even want to kiss me You et our bargain altogether"