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Aden reood idea So No way Aden could explain this

My God, Julian said Such strength…

I’, I don’t know, run like hell, Caleb said Just a suggestion to, I don’t know, save our lives

Elijah was as silent as Aden

Scowling, Victoria turned to the tree in front of her and punched "I can’t save you" Punched again "You’re going to die To leave irls…they’re beautiful and smart, and what if you like them better? You say you love me now, but you haven’t spent time with the others yet They could charm you They’re more…human than I am Or what if they hurt you? I’ll have to kill theht about one thing I’ethey are, how human they act I love you"

Either she didn’t hear him or she didn’t believe him The punches never slowed This tree split just like the other, the top half cru blue eyes finally focused on Aden

Aden, listen to ged What if she turns all that anger to your man business? We could lose our favorite body part!

Victoria’s panting intensified, air sawing in and out of her s She stepped toward hi froed bark, he noticed They weren’t even bruised

"Aden," she growled in a voice he didn’t recognize It was layered, as if two people were speaking at once Raspy Enraged Powerful Her beast?

He kept his expression blank, but couldn’t stop cold fingers of dread fro down his spine He’d asked for this, had coood "Yes?" If she wanted to break hiht back because he wouldn’t risk hurting her

"You should not have de step, two, she continued to approach him Closer…closer still…

His eyes widened Was that…could it be…? It was; it had to be She was halfway to hi above her shoulders Solittery outline of wings stretching fro snout with big nostrils, black scales and eyes he’d see in his nightold flames that crackled with the promise of a painful death

The de manner, he realized with shock, but in…supplication? Surely not

Still Aden expected to be cut down the moirlfriend to grab his wrist and jerk him into the heat of her body Breath pushed from his nose as the world around him faded, as his feet lost their solid anchor, as his ?

A car suddenly materialized around hier seat She was still panting, and over and over the beast, which was still perched over her shoulders, reached for hih air

What would happen if the creature solidified, as she’d warned?

"Uh, I think your wards have worn off," Aden said, the souls inside hi with concern

Without a word, Victoria re her bare from the waist up Aden’s jaw dropped Dear God Over her heart were two tiny swirling black and red tattoos his eyes could have traced forever Caleb fainted

Elijah and Julian asped

"No They’re still there" Her voice was still layered "Now, kissherself in his lap Tight squeeze, with the wheel at her back, but he loved it Her knees pressed against his waist, and her hands tangled in his hair, her nails cutting into his scalp

Her lips sue, which he welco He wound his arainst her shoulders, trailing them down her spine So ue, and he wanted to be burned

On and on the kiss continued, until his every breath was filled with her Until her taste--cherries, of all things--was all that he knew Until she was purring, her sweet little roans The s on the car had long since fogged

Elijah and Julian were blessedly quiet, offering no "helpful" advice about how tohe was doing wrong They were probably as awed as he was Just as lost

"Are you thirsty?" hehis jaw, his neck, stopping to lick his ha pulse He opened his eyes, and realized the beast was no longer visible

"No" Another lick of his pulse

Tendrils of his jealousy returned "Who’d you drink fros"

The tension drained froirl She knelips--on anyone else "Can’t taste as good as fresh blood"