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"I ondering when you would show up," Cooper said "Seems like you've been busy since you've been back "

Salina siven ht say that You should have known better than to force me to leave Ashland in the first place I always told you that I'd come back and kill you for it "

"And I always told you that I'd be right here to stop you I only wish you'd cohtful place to start with But instead, you decided on sneak attacks, just like always Just like your father always did when he was alive That's why he couldn't kill Mab, you know Because his sneak attack to stab her in the back failed, and he just didn't have the raw ic to defeat her "

"Don't you dare talk about my father, you miserable little toad!" Salina screamed "His plan would have worked! He would have killed Mab, if one of his giant guards hadn't gotten greedy and sold hi "

I winced at her screeching Looked like daddy's death was indeed a sore spot, just like I'd thought I wondered if that was another old score she planned to settle while she was in town, although I had no idea who she'd target, since Mab was already dead

Salina made a visible effort to unclench her jaw and fists A moment later, her stiff posture relaxed, and her features were sh talk," she purred "I've waited a long time for this moment, and I plan to savor every second of it "

She brought her hand up, curling her fingers into a loose fist Then her fist seelassy like, well, water It al as she fully e wetness of her power all the way across the clearing

But Cooper wasn't to be outdone, and the dwarf reached for his own Air ather around hi in the center of a miniature tornado Around and around the hirled, stirring up leaves, twigs, and rocks underfoot and roan and the metal sculptures sway back and forth, despite their sturdy bases and heavy frames

While the two eleathered their power for that initial strike, I turned iants Salina had brought along Three were about twenty feet behind Salina They'd already grabbed the last fountain froh the trees as fast as they could I'd deal with them later The other two stood behind Cooper, probably in case he tried to retreat froic The dwarf didn't seem like the kind to turn and run, even when he kneas on the losing side - like he was right now

Oh, the das strong in hisher power now, and I could tell that she was alh, but the wild card here was the type of ic she had Like Cooper had said, Salina's water poas a tricky thing, hard to get a fix on, hard to defend against It wasn't like any ht - before

But what ot, even eleic in the world couldn't save so ot the chance But first, I had to deal with the giants Together, I knew that Cooper and I could beat Salina at her own ga field as much as possible Besides, if I went after Salina first, there was tooto end things that ith Cooper getting caught in the crossfire No, I'd take out Salina's backup first, then go in for the kill on her

I slithere

d through the underbrush, heading toward the first giant He was focused on Salina and Cooper, instead of watching his own back, like he should have been I reached the tree closest to him, then drew in a breath and rocked back on ht moment

"And now, Cooper, it's ti you off my to-do list Don't worry You're not the only one I came back to Ashland to teach a lesson to In fact, et what they deserve Very, very soon "

I frowned, wondering what she was talking about With Cooper dead, the only people she would have left to go after would be Phillip again and perhaps Eva - and ? I didn't have tiic appeared in her right hand