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"Because you were protected by the vaoing to do about thatidea, Caleb said The best you’ll ever hear, if I do say soto say Don’t listen to him, Aden

Now I’m nervous, Julian piped up

Caleb outlined his plan Afterward, Aden was the one to groan Of course Caleb thought his plan was a gold-star idea, because he liked those witches, but he wasn’t using his brain,else to free his friends froive myself up," he said flatly, and Caleb patted hiasped, shook her head, strands of black hair hitting her cheeks "No That’s dangerous and foolish and--"

"The only way I’ If we pretend to set Jennifer free, she can--"

"Jennifer?" Victoria interjected with a twinge of anger "Who’s Jennifer?"

"Our delightful hostage" He motioned to the doorith a tilt of his chin "Anyway, if we let her go, she’ll likely want to capture me and take me to her friends I’ll be with theht?"

Victoria chewed on her bottoins"

That was a chance he illing to take For her For the others He reached out and cupped her jaw As always, she was hot, so hot, and utterly soft "We’ve run out of time"

And the idea is made of awesome, but whatever

She leaned into the touch "Well, I’ to risk your life I’ll let her capture me, too, and that way--"

He shook his head before she could finish "Witches and vampires are a bad mix, as you know I’m sorry to say this, but they’re more likely to take me if you’re not there And we need to do this before Riley returns" As protective as the as of his king, he, too, would insist on going with Aden If he "allowed" Aden to go at all, that is

But most of all, Aden recalled the conversation that had just taken place The witches and the fairies wanted to destroy the va to let Victoria and Riley beco," Victoria said, fisting his shirt, "so I can’t stop you if you insist on doing this, but you have to--"

"I’aze pleaded with him to understand "And I want my boyfriend to stay alive"

He softened, inside and out "I’ers from his shirt and slid her palht side of his ribs He’d possessed scars in the vision Elijah had shown him Soon, these scabs would becoh He wouldn’t let her see his fear at the thought of being stabbed in the heart again Only his willingness to do as necessary to protect his friends

"There’s a difference between knowing you er," she cried

"Listen These are scabs, not scars Not yet I’ve still got a little time Which means the witches won’t kill h time to turn the scabs to scars, and then kill him But he didn’t want Victoria to worry the entire tih left her as she absorbed his words, and he knew the exact second she accepted his clailow like twin sunrises over the ocean "If you do this, you need otiable"

"If by nonnegotiable, you ree There isn’t time for more wards, sweetheart"

She scowled "So I’m just supposed to let you leave with the witch and hope everything turns out okay?"

Yes, but he didn’t say it aloud "Will you make sure no one misses me at the ranch?"

Her scowl deepened, but she nodded

"Thank you And just in case you’ve forgotten, I love you" He kissed her then, tasting her, deep and thorough, as if this was the last time they’d ever be able to do this

Maybe it was

Her hands tangled in his hair, and she angled his head for even deeper contact At soht he tasted blood--perhaps he’d accidentally swiped his tongue on her fangs--but even that didn’t slow hi, the souls quiet, until the front door creaked open and footsteps pounded

They sprang apart, and Aden noticed Riley’s brothers standing a few feet away, grinning