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Mirceo vaulted to the fang-lined edge In the large gullet, the deainst the opposite side, holding the creature's jaw open Caspion had already used his claws to sever the gulg's tongue

Mirceo didn't think--just dropped down to mirror Caspion's position The two s extended to pry open the jaws "Nohat, demon?"

"Afraid you were going to ask me that"

Mirceo craned his head back "At least things can't get much worse--"

The gulg started to spin like a saucer

Caspion bit out, "Still think this is the best date?"

"Hoill you ever top this?" Blood from Mirceo's stomach rushed to his head as they swirled

"Lower down, there's a jaw muscle If we can sever it"

"We walk down like this?"

"That's the plan"

Dizziness reigned, but Mirceo believed in Caspion In theether, they descended closer to the jaw muscle But they also neared its throat, which opened and closed below them like a trash compactor

Mirceo spied a juncture of two bulging tendons "I can al spun even faster With a yell, Mirceo swung his sword, severing the tendons That side of the gullet sagged

Tension gone, Mirceo and Caspion dropped fro his claws into the flesh, holding on with one hand, his other grappling to catch Mirceo

"I've got a hold!" Mirceo had stabbed his sword for purchase, was now dangling from it The throat was about to enclose his feet

Caspion said, "I' open from above, I can leap up"

"Do it" Mirceo clasped forearht, he retrieved his sith his free hand They azes

The deet mo

htleft"GO!"

Mirceo fleard, tue open the taut side "Come on, demon! Now!"

Caspion dug into the gullet ith the claws of both hands, bringing up his knees and planting the toes of his boots His body tensed Gritting his teeth, he leapt

He shot up toward Mirceodidn't stopjust kept co onto the sand

"What the hell, demon?"

They scrambled up Caspion had taken thes followed?

Theinto each other But they'd stopped at that boundary!

"We made it, vampire!" Caspion whaled a slap on his back

Between breaths, Mirceo said, "Dare I say we're bonding?" The way to a deh the hunt

"Here" Caspion had soed Mirceo's sword on the way out

"Thanks" He sheathed it once more

This close to the fortress, the winds had abated soed off his scarf, so Mirceo did as well

"Okay, leechling"--the de blue eyes crinkled at the sides--"you're on deck"

TWENTY

We actually ht survive! Cas and the va Unable to contain his exciteot this"

He ignored the thoughts that had run through histhose reflections deep If he and the prince lived through the rest of the night, Cas would sift through and process them

For now, he forced his attention to the job "I think that firelight at the top of the pyraet us inside there?"

"We'll soon find out"

"You see the guardhouse up front?" Cas pointed it out "The scylla tentacles will ee just beyond it The outer wall of the fortress marks the mystical barrier Let's hope it doesn't affect your mist"

"Othere'll turn corporeal and pluht into the creature's tentacles?"

"Bingo The hard part will be getting in; we'll likely be able to teleport straight out of the fortress"

When Mirceo reached for his hand, Cas hesitated In conservative Abaddon, he'd never seen twohands

"Are you jesting?" Mirceo de is taboo--after I nursed blood from your dick?"

Cas had to stifle a groan Don't re at the way they fit If I was born for him, was Mirceo born for me? "Nohat?"