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We fell together onto the bed, and he wrapped his arms around me Fast and frantic, I ca thigh He petted my back with clumsy hands, his eyes dazed His lashes fluttered toward his cheeks Once, twice I’d never seen him so utterly undone

This Chance could destroy me And he was irresistible

By the ti and taking his stroll around the patio, and I was decently covered in Chance’s shirt

The dehed “It reeks of copulation in here”

Fire washed my cheeks “Hi to you too”

“I suppose one must be thankful you have one another hoes It would be disastrous if you succumbed to a Luren Gilder or Lash, for instance”

“Disastrous for whom?”

“Everyone If you take any native as your lover, you make him—or her—your consort here in Sheol, should you ascend”

“Anyone who tries to touch her coh me,” Chance bit out “I need better weapons, demon”

His eyes were scary-fierce, primal in intensity; I’d seen the last of enie was out of the bottle for good I suspected he’d always had these tendencies, carefully leashed, but soick ht be entirely ourselves, but I didn’t regret e’d done Not when I felt so good

Greydusk studied us for a er and then shook its head “I was afraid of this”

“What’s wrong?”

“You’ve chosen hi He can’t help but respond to the ancient ick”

“Is there anything I can do to stop it?” I asked

“No Once chosen, the consort belongs to the queen until death”

“But I’m not the queen”

“Near enough” Greydusk thrust a package towardfor both of you I’ll wait in the next roo limbs and went out

“Are you all right?”

“Fine,” Chance answered in reflex, and then he gazed at his curled fist as if surprised “No I’uard and keep and protect Please” The last word caroan

I sensed it wasn’t the time for questions or exceptions Quietly worried, I took his hands in ers “I’m yours”

A heavy sigh slid out of hi with me This place fucks with my head”

Just like Greydusk warned

“I know But we have a week to find Shannon and get out I’ll keep you safe if you do the same for me”

“I promise,” he whispered

Dark City

Before we left, Greydusk took us to the armory

The guards at either side of the door were beautiful, like all Luren, but at this point, the effect was starting to wear off I iined our sojourn here was sort of like a supermodel convention At first you’re totally overwhel you, and then slowly you build up i or hold a decent conversation And these demons looked like the ansas no to both questions; their eyes were pretty blank

They let us pass because they had orders not to impede us, I supposed, orat the range of weapons—not that I kne to use any of them But Chance was in his eleloves that gliht bare-handed, the gloves would help They weighted his bloith knuckle guards, and I was sure the spell would make his strikes more effective

“Can you tell what these do?” he asked the demon

Greydusk took theloves spat fire and then ice How cool

“They augth There are two effects on the gloves, but you choose which to use with a command word Only one can be active at a tiloves down, and then whispered to Chance, I guessed to prevent activating the ic

“I don’t need a weapon,” I said

“Perhaps not But what about an athame?”

Those generally weren’t used for stabbing or fighting; they were cereh some witches kept them sharp in case a spell called for a small blood sacrifice I had the one I’d purchased in Laredo, but one froht also come with a price

“Will it show in the human realm if I cast spells here?”

Greydusk cocked its head “You ick?”

“Yeah”