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Victoria began tapping her chin again "Perhaps, then, ard you against the witches We can’t protect you froh skin for that erous Mary Ann, too No one can be warded against a spell that’s already been cast, of course, but after the ainst another death spell Until then, it will be wise to protect her from other curses"

Dan would throw a fit if Aden came home covered in tattoos And Mary Ann’s dad would probably have a heart attack if she inked anything, even so as innocent as a rose, into her flesh "We’ll think about it So why aren’t you warded against spells? Why isn’t Riley?" He reached out and linked their fingers

"Soh to concern ourselves, really For the h, can’t be warded Their animal form doesn’t hold the ink, so it’s a waste The moment they shift, their wards fade I suppose we could ward Riley against certain spells for thehi with you"

He lifted her hand, kissed her wrist "I don’t understand why Riley doesn’t just take over the va"

And…there it was The spark of anger that always acco Seriously What the hell?

"The wolves have rained in the We’ll talk about that later, though Let’s guard hie to jerk her back into his lap If they stayed here, he would kiss her again Guaranteed "That witch is probably giving him fits"

Victoria nodded and a moment later, the world around him disappeared

A DESERTED CABIN,Filled only olves, a vampire and weapons Well, and also a blindfolded witch as tied to a chair in the center of an otherwise empty bedroo This witch’s hair was too short and too dark a blond She wasn’t sure if that relieved her or disturbed her

Riley had i like this:

Riley: Where is thebetween your kind and Aden Stone supposed to take place?

Witch: Go suck yourself

Riley: Maybe later Meeting?

Witch: Enjoy death

Riley: I have once already Now, decide to talk or lose a body part

Witch: May I recoer?

Riley: Sure After I take one of your very necessary hands

Witch: Look, you y mutt The elders will be here any day now They had planned on contacting you After this, well, I’m sure your invitation will be lost in the mail

At that, frustration had filled the room Guilt had filled Mary Ann This had been her idea, but it had done e was repeated threebehind the witch and placing her hands on the girl’s shoulders Her fangs were longer than they’d been a er in her eyes it actually hurt Mary Ann In thatto hold out her arry

But then she recalled Victoria’s words Words uttered only yesterday, though an eternity see to vampires Once Lauren tasted the witch, there would be no pulling her off And then Victoria, whenever she arrived--where was she? What was she doing?--would probably join the feasting

"I’ll only nip her," Lauren said, words now slurred "Only take a little She’ll start talking then Swear"

"No!" Riley shouted, and Mary Ann thought she saw the witch recoil

That’s when Victoria and Aden at last appeared Both were flushed, their lips swollen and red, glistening

Ah They’d been kissing