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His forehead hit the carpet as pain drilled into his brain Holy … shit It felt like someone had lit a blowtorch inside his skull

"Yes, ed to rasp

The pain abruptly disappeared and Tane groaned in bone deep gratitude He ht have suffered worse, but he couldn’t reiven an opportunity to appreciate the shocking relief

Siljar’s srabbed his mohawk and yanked his head up to meet her creepily pleasant smile

"Do you truly believe the Corel from the moment she was conceived?"

He faltered What the hell? Was she toying with hiaray brows lifted "You seek to lecture me on the laws I proclaimed?"

Careful, Tane

He wouldn’t be any use to Laylah dead "No, only to understand"

She hesitated, as if debating whether to continue with thepain or sirip on his hair and stepped back, neatly folding her hands in front of her

"It was determined that she is a principiuaze "A what?"

"A rare soul who is destined to play a pivotal role in the future of the world"

The floor seee sense of… premonition when he ith Laylah hadn’t been a delusion that he’d invented for an excuse to keep her near

He should be leaping for freaking joy

The Oracles had decided that Laylah was fated to be of use to the her At least not until she’d fulfilled her ed in the pit of his sto iood thing

Martyrdom sucked for the actual martyr

"What does this pivotal role entail?" he rasped

"Do not take that tone with h his brain, but he couldn’t back down

"Forgive led and failed to find the words "Need to know"

The pain faded until it was only a vague warning that he was treading near the edge of the Oracle’s goodwill

"Only a true prophet can read the future," she said in that low, hypnotic voice "But the importance of her birth ritten in the stars"

"So you don’t intend to destroy her?"

"Of course not She is vital to our future"

His muscles twitched with the need to return to Laylah "Then may I ask why you wished to meet with me?"

"My reasons are twofold"

"Danored his impatient outburst "The first reason is to remind the vampires that the Commission is not to be trifled with It was your duty to inforrel, but instead you attenored our laws and endangered others for your own pleasure Obviously you need a re our authority"

"And the second?" he asked, trying not to consider his loo punishment

"To make sure you do not intend to interfere in Laylah’s destiny"

He was on his feet before he even realized he wasbut try to keep her pretty head attached to her neck," he argued "A job that should come with a sainthood, believe me"

Siljar wasn’t impressed "You have imposed your will upon her, have you not?"

He frowned, oddly offended by the accusation "You don’t have toyour pardon?"

"Neverto protect her"

"She must be allowed to make her choices freely"

"Even if they put her in an early grave?"

"If that is to be her fate" The feh the room "Do not be rash, vampire The female is necessary to the world You, however, are disposable"

His jaw clenched Heto let Laylah be some sacrificial pawn

"You want me to abandon her to her fate?"

Siljar tilted her head to the side Like an inquisitive bird Only with pointed teeth and enough power to destroy the world