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“It’s not a wash,” Chance said then “You got the info we came for”

“That would help if I remembered any of it,” I muttered

“I’ll fill you in”

He did

As it turned out, the Dohan had taken Shannon because they wanted Sheol to change They wanted greater access to the human realm due to their particular appetites De wheatgrass when you wanted chocolate cake The Drinkers had thought if they brought my best friend here, I would follow And then the queen would ascend, taking her place ruling over the castes, and she would regulate gate use, as she had done in ages past Being the favored children who had been instru her back to Sheol, they would, of course, benefit from her triumphant return

“At least,” Chance went on, “that was the initial plan But the Hazo threrench in the works”

“Yeah, I ondering why they gave Shannon away” I wrapped my arms around him, desperate to waret me here and they didn’t care what happened to her after that And so they gave her to the Hazo to play with?”

The tears caht then, so broken It see in er I’d instilled He couldn’t expect to get revenge on the demon queen, after all

“That’s not why” He stroked racefully or prettily, but ere so far past any of that at this point

“Then tell me!”

“Apparently there was some old debt between the castes The Hazo demanded Shannon in payment”

“Because Caiain,” I said bitterly

“That’s what Azon thinks anyway”

I nodded and ed to stop the orks “We have unfinished business But I wonder why the Dohan kept her in the Barrens instead of bringing her here”

Chance s, full of love, but also…fear “She asked that question too”

The bile rose again This time I couldn’t stop it I puked into a decorative urn He didn’t approach ered to the bathroom and rinsed my mouth repeatedly Above the basin, I stared at the woman in the mirror She had dyed red hair with tawny streaks and a pale, thin face Below her eyes, she had deep bruises, as if she hadn’t slept in weeks This looked like a woe, as if she were about to break for the last time And maybe I wouldn’t havemyself forever

“Tellto the lavatory threshold “Are you hanging in because you promised you would? Because you don’t want to let me down?”

He laughed softly “Do you think I’uy who keeps a promise beyond all common sense?”

“Maybe”

“Uh-uh My mama didn’t raise a fool I believe we can save Shannon, keep you froe”

“Nothing like dreaious “Nothe odds”

He flashed his beautiful s odds, baby”

Yeah, you are I’ up snake eyes

“That’s certainly true”

“Once, I’ive me a second chance Yet here we are”

I grinned back “In hell Yeah, you’re a funny guy”

The love in his tiger’s eyes wreckedI’ll even be the queen’s jester” There was a shadow in his face that made me wonder just what the hell had passed between hiht box in my own head

“Don’t say that”

“Can’t help it,” he whispered “Haven’t you figured it out yet? There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you”

Hearing that should have felt a myself into his arms Instead, a chill ran down my spine Don’t love me like that, I wanted to scream at him It’s not safe It’s not wise

“So’s different,” I said “What did she say to you?”

Before Chance could reply, Greydusk tapped on the door

“Come in,” I called

It wasn’t until after I spoke that I realized I shouldn’t have known But I felt him, as if his essence were bonded to mine…like a queen who monitored her minions The realization sickenedbut echoes where Corine Solomon had been

“You’re huain” Disappointment flavored the demon’s tone, and that rocked me

I had started counting on Greydusk as a true ally, but he served me only because he wanted the dark queen’s favor when she ascended Destroying me That meant Greydusk wasn’t o crazy

“If I said I’ll stay, after we save Shannon, hoould you feel?”

“Relieved,” Greydusk said at once “Sheol needs you”

“Needs her, you mean”

The de, toothy smile “That’s semantics, Binder At this point, you’re as much hers as your own”

Unwelcoht

I glanced at Chance; he was s I wished he hadn’t coesture, ready to love e to send him away in Laredo, but I had been so hurt that I couldn’t bear the thought of being alone And noeakness ht destroy hi resolve