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Both the shivering and the hovering

And standing in the dark wondering what the hell had happened to her life

A week ago she would have already been in her cramped apartment tucked into her cramped bed

She wouldn’t have known about all the bad things that went buht, or feared that she was about to becoaze slid upward to linger upon the tense, perfect profile of the vaht have been safely tucked in her bed, but she would have been alone And miserable

Whatever happened, no matter how many beasts and deret the events that had led to thisDante near her orth any cost

Even as the knowledge settled deep inside Abby, Dante stirred with a restless h him

Her hand reached out to touch his arm

"What do you sense?"

’The demon is near"

"How near?"

He flashed a wry smile "Abby, I’m not a GPS I can only say that she is close"

’Then the witches must be close"

’Yes"

Abby felt faintly nauseous A sensation that was triggered each tiht of the women who she had seen in her dream

Women ould hold her life, as well as that of Dante, in their hands

"Do we start searching houses?"

Dante angled his head and sniffed the air She didn’t knohat he could save a sharp shake of his head

"I don’t want to blunder in blindly I prefer to have so"

"I could--"

"No"

Abby stiffened at his sharp tone It wasn’t that she particularly wanted to creep through the dark alone Hell, she’d rather shove a fork in her eye But she didn’t take commands well Never had, never would

"Well, I’ht," she inforry, anda turn toward pissy"

He cocked a brow "I’d say the turn has already been made"

"Dante"

His arm fell across her shoulders "There isthe witches"

"And they would be?"

He led her frohfare just a block away

"Trust me"

She rolled her eyes at the familiar words "Can’t you at least tell ?"

’You will see"

He turned the corner, and they walked past elegant restaurants with their discreet awnings and closed shops that didn’t put price tags on their itehborhood where women like her were followed by store security

She wrinkled her nose as she found herself being relentlessly towed toward a sidewalk coffee shop that was still bustling with preps and corporate executives

"I’"

"Really, lover, you should have more faith in me"

"I do, it’s just…"

’Just what?"

Abby caaze squarely

"I’m afraid," she abruptly ad over the top of her head

"I won’t let anything happen to you, Abby You have my promise"

"But what of you?"

"I’reat care"

She pulled back with a frown "We don’t knohat the witches will do"

’They will discover a new Chalice, and you will be free of the Phoenix"