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"We’re here"

Finally Mary Ann’s knees gave out and she collapsed, sucking in as many breaths as she could Which wasn’t many Dizzy, so dizzy Air too thick, still too cold Only one thoughtsucked

"The ranch is just ahead When you’re able, stand and walk Yes? I a inside now"

Victoria didn’t wait for her reply--not that she was in any shape to deliver one--but bolted away, a blur of ht this! If she didn’t, and Riley was inside, he would co to help her He would see her like this He would view her as weaker than he already did

A minute passed Maybe an hour But finally, Mary Ann clawed her way froh that she was able to stand, the air thinning enough that she was able to breathe Her knees knocked together, but she didn’t let that stop her fro forward She had yet to ware

Finally, she reached the ranch’s bunkhouse, where Aden stayed, a log cabin-type structure next to a bright red barn She found histhat the glass was pushed up, out of the way Inside she clih She plopped unceremoniously to the floor

"Mary Ann!"

Riley’s deep voice penetrated the lingering fog in her mind

Relief and dread, that’s what she experienced If he said anything about her presence or current condition, she’d…what? Nothing, probably Coward

Not forfor you, baby Are you okay?" His strong ared her to her feet

"I’o "Where’s Aden? How’s Aden?" Her lashes lifted, and her gaze met Riley’s As always, her heart constricted He was just so beautiful So ht now, despite that, he looked like death walking He was shirtless and covered in dried blood "What’s wrong with you?"

"Come See for yourself"

FIVE

MARY ANN EXPECTED TRAGEDY Death, even She was braced for the erief, remorse, sorrow A combination of all three What she saw surprised her, and it was happiness and relief that flooded her

Aden’s room was neat Clean The papers on the desk were tidy, and the air onderfully sweet, s of roses and honeysuckle Aden lay on the bed, buried under the covers He was a little paler than normal, with dark circles under his closed eyes, his black hair--with its blond roots--in tangles and , but otherwise appeared healthy and whole She flattened a hand over her thurinned

And yet, Victoria sat beside hi down her face Why the tears? He was alive

"I don’t understand what’s going on," Mary Ann said, burrowing deeper into Riley’s side

"He reeks of Fae" Victoria shimmied under the covers and curled herself around Aden "My poor baby," she cooed "You’re so cold Like ice Let nized his girlfriend, because he turned toward her, slid his arht Gradually, his shivering ceased

"What’s wrong with s like the Fae?" Mary Ann asked All she sood She inhaled deeply, savoring, wanting a bottle of the scent to take home and bathe in

In fact, when she closed her eyes, she could i in atoward her, a rainbow of soft, fragrant petals War Hazy blue sky, fluffy white clouds The ies calmed her, and her stomach settled coers, and our people will never follow him like this They will rebel They will deain one, they will have to kill hiain "And he’s supposed to appear before theht!"

The last was a screech

"That’s not the worst of it," Riley said gravely "I haven’t told you how he came to be in this condition"

Mary Ann’s eyelids cracked open, the field and colors fading away So Weird For a second, she would have sworn she’d truly been in that e Mary Ann didn’t know, and Victoria paled "Mr Tholish

"Who?" Mary Ann asked "And what did you say? Before?"

"I spoke the naed Aden into Fairy Tale," Riley said "The huue cannot pronounce fairy names, and so they use shortened versions while here Anyway, he once swore a blood oath to destroy every member of Victoria’s family for their part in his brother’s death"

"Aden is now part of the royal faasped out

"As you can see, he’s fine, for the ht," Riley continued "I was losing Aden possessed his body, allowing me to kill the--to win"

Wait Fairy…tale? "Fairy Tale is…"