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Before the last word left his o on the offensive, a sharp pain he recognized, hated, dreaded, expected, lanced through hian Every beat of his heart sliced the wound deeper, wider

The very heartbeat that kept hi

The pain exploded, as sharp as the blade Aden looked down, saw the hilt dripping criled from him, and he heard Victoria scream his name Where was she? He still couldn’t see her He was alone Was going to die all alone

Not even a day He hadn’t even had a day of rest Even God had had a day of rest Strange thoughts, heVictoria would hear hi He wouldn’t trade a moment of his time with her

The deserted street shi back into view

Oh, Aden, Elijah said

Caleb and Julian shouted denials

Not alone, then He had the souls Made sense They’d started life together, and now they would end it together Oh, God End End This was the end With the word echoing in his head, he realized he wasn’t ready But the pain soon dragged hi hi more

SOMEONE MUST HAVE USED electric shocks on his brain, because suddenly Aden’s entire body spasmed, and he felt the pain, so much pain Too much pain The shroud of black quickly wrapped back around him, thank God, thank God, thank God, but the electric shock pulled hiain

"--save hi to someone "You have to save him"

"He’s been injured too badly," an unfaiven him all the blood you can stand to lose Anyto die," she screeched "We can’t let hi!"

I’m here, he tried to tell her, but he couldn’t force his ht, because he could hear thele word, either

Was this it? The end?

The end Familiar words

"Try and turn him," Victoria said on a rush "Drain him completely and fill hih, weary and sad "We’ve tried that before, princess, with others This you know Not since Vlad’s ti ever ended successfully"

"I don’t care"

"Sometimes the donor died, as well"

"I know that, too! Just do it! There’s no other way, and I have to try I have to try," she repeated on a sob

No, Aden wanted to shout Don’t risk your life, Victoria Anything but that

Another sigh left the stranger "Very well He’s all yours But know this When your people discover his weakened condition--and they will, we can’t keep this a secret for long--there will be a struggle for the crown NoAden has proved hier for power Contenders ant to strike him while they can"

"They’ll have to find him first And when he returns, and he will, I’e will be punished Severely"

A knock sounded, several hard thuasp

"Riley?" Victoria said

"What happened to him? What the hell happened?"

"Stay back! Don’t touch hi hi hi him? Away? Victoria, you can’t do that"

"I can and I will Stay back!"

A pause "Okay, okay I’ll stay back But there’s sos, actually And I can’t stay here for long Mary Ann ran away, and I followed her to make sure she made it someplace safely, and I only came back to talk to you I have to return to her before she decides to head somewhere else and I lose her trail So listen up You’ve been challenged by Draven for rights to Aden Your father is alive and--"

"A challenge? No! Not yet! Is Mary Ann okay? And…and what you do mean my father is alive? Riley, he can’t be alive He can’t be alive He’ll hurt Aden, he’ll… No! I won’t let hi Darkness Then, Aden felt as if his neck was being ripped open, and this time, he did ht, he stilled Nothing, he had nothing left

The shroud, that blessed shroud It covered hi away…

…cold, so cold…

Stupid shroud…he tugged it back in place