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"Does it matter?"

"Of course it matters," she retorted in sharp tones "I’ve seen Firestarter Do you think I want to be so human torch?"

Dante ift to se, Abby was hanging by a thin thread

"Lover, calm down You aren’t a human torch" Gently he reached for one of her hands and placed it to the center of his chest Sharp, sh hi to do with the power of the Phoenix "See?"

"But…"

"Abby" He rested his forehead upon laer own, squeezing her fingers in silent comfort "It’s no different than your ability to stop athose nails as lethal weapons It’s just another tool One that ht very well keep you alive"

She re ave a tearful chuckle "Is there anything that ever bothers you?"

Pulling back, Dante traced the lone tear that ran down her cheek "This bothers me It makes me ache deep inside"

"Dante"

The vulnerability that softened her features was Dante’s undoing Before he could resist, his head was lowering to capture her lips in a soft kiss that shihtened his ar to comfort her in the only means possible Bloody hell, he wanted to sweep her away from this devil-infested mess An impossible desire, of course Until they found the witches, all he could do was try to protect her and hope that she could endure the terrors yet to coth of her jaw, he patiently whispered words of encourage lessen

"Abby,back to er res and prepare to leave We don’t kno h pale, Abby had once again regained her staunch courage Wrapping her arave a detero?"

"To find the coven," he retorted without hesitation "Which means I shall first have to speak with Viper"

Her brows rose in surprise "He knohere the coven is?"

His lips twitched "No But he does possess e need to find them"

"And what’s that?"

’Transportation"

Chapter 7

It took Abby less than a quarter of an hour to slip on the clothes that Dante had brought for her and tie back her hair in a si like a twice-dead body lying on the floor to kick a wo, but the s she wasn’t particularly anxious to experience

Careful to avoid glancing in the er her own, she swiftly brushed her teeth and returned to the outer room where Dante awaited her

A rueful flare of aht of him beside the door While she looked as if she had spent the past two days rolling in alleys, being hunted by demons, and attacked by zombies, he was Versace perfect

The raven hair was brushed from his lean, alabaster face to flon his back The black silk shirt ithout a wrinkle as it shimmered over his chiseled torso, and a pair of black leather pants hugged his legs with oh-my-God results

Even the wicked features ithout fault There were no shadows, no hint of weariness Not even a five o’clock shadow

It was damn well unfair, she decided as she continued forward He could at least have bed head or a bit of sleep crusted in those hts, Dante offered her an encouraging smile "Are you ready?"

"Only in the proverbial ’as ready as I’ll ever be’ sense," she adh for now, I suppose Let’s go"

Together they left the apart down the hall to the elaborate lobby Instead of heading toward the door, however, Dante led her toward the curved marble staircase In silence they cli Only when they stood before a pair of carvedso closely behind hiard her with a frown

"Look, Abby, I can’t leave you on your own, not e can’t be certain it’s safe"

Abby gave a lift of her brows "Do you think I’ue? After the past few hours, I plan to stick to you like glue"

"A very nice visualization One I intend to ponder at length later, lover Still…"