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Waitthat was Lila's pink cheotten it from her apartment?

The redhead raised one gauntlet, rapping her claws together In a sinister voice, she said, "This is the part where you run"

On it! Lila whirled around, her full skirts whipping from the movement, and darted away

Sorceri couldn't trace--teleport--and could never outrun a fey like Lila If she could reach a group of mortals, the pair would back off

Her updo came undone Were her ears visible? She swatted her hair off her face

Midstride, she chanced a glance over her shoulder Lost thee was a ra--

Her stomach lurched, her feet suddenly above her head She was tu down an embankment How? She'd never seen

SPLAT

She landed face-first in a shallow retention pond Spitting et free, but the own

The Sorceri strolled to the bridge, laughing as if this was all good-natured fun The black-haired one said, "Good one, sis Making the path appear to move Didn't you pull a similar illusion when you crashed Rydstrom's car?"

The redhead chuckled "It never fails Why do people always think what they see is real?"

They'd distorted Lila's vision! She clawed at the eht in her skirts like spinning tires She fell on her face again

Ugh! Swiping filth from her eyes, she snapped, "You'll do this with security cameras around? Have you lost your minds?"

"Of course not," the redhead said "I've made this all invisible"

Just as Lila got loose and tensed to flee, the black-haired fee, fey Co another sound" Her words were laden with sorcery! A ht to repel the co toward the Sorceri

When she stood before the two females, the black-haired one said, "I'm Melanthe This is my sister, Sabine"

Sabine created an illusion out of thin air of a girl who looked exactly likeLila "I'd say this fey is our bounty"

The infiltration! They were about to put

her in Abyssian's castle Sooner rather than later, Nix?

Sabine erased her illusion "We've caught ourselves Hell's Most Wanted"

"So here's the situation," Melanthe said to Lila "My beloved husband, Thronos, and I are the rulers of the Vrekener clan I'm sure you've heard of us"

Vrekeners inged deel lore was based on the as their queen?

"Well, Thronos and I kind of trespassed in Pandeht've brought to hell an entire population of angels Ish" Melanthe continued, "But if I turn you over to Abyssian Infernas for a bounty, then he probably won't unleash his deions to destroy my people" She placed one hand protectively over her belly "So you are going to be our ace in the hole As a matter of fact, let's just call you Ace from now on"

Sabine said, "We're about to cash in on you, Ace"

"Nothing personal" At Lila's ear, Melanthe added, "By the way, Nix had a final e for you: Never trust a Valkyrie Now, sleepwalk, Ace"

Lila resisted, but sleep overtook her

FIVE

Sian could perceive any entry into--or exit from--Pandemonia A portal had opened, in his own throne room no less Kari's scent emanated from there

He traced to the rooarment lay on the floor He snatched up the tiny piece, shuddering at the silk against his palm The chemise was similar to the shift he'd once stolen from her

Was this a jest? He turned to face the portal Dropped his jaw On the other side, in some distant realm, washis mate

Though mud covered her, Sian could tell her fine-boned features and full lips were the sa when not filthy

Eyes closed--would they be ain?--she stood motionless between two Sorceri females Was she bespelled?

The black-haired sorceress pressed one claw froular Most likely a poisoned tip The Sorceri were known toxinians Some poisons could kill even an immortal

Sian grated, "You have my attention" He eased closer to the portal Damn it, a one-direction rift He couldn't simply snatch Kari