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She growled in anticipation, pressing against her bonds, and this time it was all I could do to contain her The mere promise of freedom and my body for her use? Her excitement pounded in my head like tribal drums

“Are you sure you wish to pursue this path, Binder?”

“It’s the only currency I have”

“The Dohan may claim to own your especial favor later,” Greydusk warned, “if you choose to feed them from your own veins”

“They can claim whatever they wish Let them try to enforce it” I didn’t realize it until the icy words leftwith me in my head

Noasn’t sure where the sentian Oh, Shannon What have I done?

I finishedthen her hold on me But we hadn’t packed much from the human world, so I hoped et the information we required from the Dohan, maneuver on what they told us about the Hazo plans and their stronghold, and then execute our finalShannon from the warrior caste Oh, and then there would be Sybella and the Luren to deal with, and then I needed to devise an exit strategy

No problem

Okay, maybe a few

The Imaron blew out the candle and led the way out of Club Hell He wove a neat path through the writhing bodies Butch flapped in our wake; the pseudo-quasit flew like a drunken bat and nearly slammed into the top of a de fun for the first ti, so I didn’t yell at hiht, I’d have a very sad dog on my hands

On the street, the night had gotten colder as the moon rose, as if it streamed icy breath doard us I shivered and Chance drew ainst my hair

“Why wouldn’t you let me help you?”

I knehat he ive his blood to the witch in Catemaco But it felt different with Chance I could accept it froned to protect me, and he’d chosen a coht Kel could protect himself from harmful spells So maybe that was it Chance seemed more vulnerable, even less at home in this fucked-up world than I was I had to look out for him

Greydusk pulled a little ahead of us as he walked, scouting, I suspected If there was trouble, he would loop back and let us know In the meantime, it permitted us to talk on the way to meet the Dohan I wondered what they’d make of my eyes

“I don’t want you hurt because of me,” I answered at last “You kno you said it kills you to seecrazy risks? I feel the same way about you”

“You do?” Soht, injured pride faded from his face

“Yeah God, Chance, you were the first guy I ever loved You’ll probably be the last”

“I want to be,” he whispered

A dark feeling came over me then Like I could wrap him up in my arms, but it wouldn’t be forever No matter how s He was one man I couldn’t keep

So and blath to tease “You want it all with me, huh? House Kids The whole nine?”

Honestly, I expected him to panic Instead, he stepped closer and in instinctive response I pressed into his chest He wrapped his ar about uncontrollable Luren urges, but half of their ire contained an edge of envy At least that many wished they were in Chance’s arms instead of me, even here, where beauty came in forms so powerful that it doubled as a weapon

He brushed ently with his and said, “Yes” Another kiss “Yes” Yet one ain, yes”

“Did you just propose?”

He smiled “Technically, I think you did”

“But I was kidding”

“Then I’ll have to do it right…at a better time”

If we made it out of Sheol, I looked forward to that day

He went on “Is that what you want too? A future with me?”

The old Chance had never been so direct with his questions or so plain in his intentions I believed that he’d changed—or maybe it was more accurate to say he’d come back to the way he’d been with Lily, instead of the broken, guarded man he had been with me On a street in Sheol wasn’t where I’d have chosen to have this conversation, but a throay reot us here I wouldn’t blow him off when he’d put himself out there

“Yes I love you, Chance” It was time to say the words because he’d done what he set out to do—win ain I was his, as h this, through some super-crazy shit It couldn’t have been aweso around inHe could’ve Not home, maybe, but he could’ve said, Okay, this is just too weird This is where I get off the crazy train But no, he took some time to process and then came back for more

With ret, I broke away, as I wanted to make out with Chance for about an hour, but I didn’t trust those urges Theyentirely to s at all, Binder? Maybe I’ you love him too

“That’s bullshit,” I said aloud

Chance glanced at htened, but he didn’t cos to him, the queen wondered, and how , I hurried to catch up with Greydusk Chance followed, his steps quick and light

“All clear?” I asked quietly

The Iood We have a clean run to the Dohan complex”