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"Doona fight me"

With effort, she raised one hand to the bag to draw it away, but he stayed her arm "No' yet"

"Why not?" Rain began to mist over them

"You've had enoughfrights for the night"

Exactly how hideous was he?

He started feeling her head through the silk bag Checking for injuries? Finding none on her head, he gently swept his hands over her ankles, her calves, even up her thighs She tensed but was too weak to resist him

He hissed out a curse when he got to her left shoulder Dislocated He wrapped his hand around her upper arrip to what felt like his thuers and the tiniest ritted her teeth as her shoulder popped back into place

When the sharp pain receded to a dull ache, she exhaled in relief, her eyelids growing heavy "Th-thank you" Was that her slurred voice? How much blood had she lost? Why couldn't she think?

"Brave," he rasped

When he lifted the skirt of her gown, sodden with her blood, she couldn't fight hi her injury anyway It was deep, excruciating

He shuddered against her At the sight of it? She could only iine what it must look like

She thought he was drawing off his shirt A rip sounded After a second she realized he was securing his balled-up shirt against her wound with a sleeve tied tightly around her waist Smart

But was it too little, too late? Without a hospital and a transfusion"You think I'm about to eat it? Be honest"

He froze "What?"

Theher "Pretty sureI' out"

"Dying? Nay Nay" Without warning, he cupped the back of her head with one massive hand and her bottoth to resist, but then thisin the world "I've got you," he grated "You will no' die"

She ainst his

"That's it, my lass" He pulled her closer

"You're s-so warm" Despite all her turmoil and all her fear, she knew she was about to black out in this stranger's embrace

When he said, "Rest, Chloe, everything'll be all right," she was too exhausted to doubt him

Blackness was clawing at her "You'll keep me safe?"

The last thing she heard before she passed out: "No one will ever hurt you again"

Chapter Ten

Will had tried-he'd truly tried-to hate her just for who she was

None doing When his brother's SUV skidded to a stop just feet froirl as if she were thein the universe

She'd been so brave, barely whi when he'd forced her arm back into its socket She'd thanked him

And then she'd uttered theout

"How bad is she?" Munro asked as he drove the toward the city

"Bluidy bad!" Will had stopped the blood flow, but she was pale and cold He reached for the heater control, blasting waret past a dozen centaurs and ten Cerunnos to seize her They were no' exactly gentle with her!"

She'd been passed aby ball Each tied hands, he'd experienced fear as never before

He inhaled, still struggling to rein in his beast He'd always heard that nothing made it rise up like a mate in peril

If she woke and saw him like this, the et her to a healer Their i huht

He'd leave the bag on for now

"And where the hell were you?" Will snapped at his brother Right before Will had taken off after his ot separated

"Fighting my way out of a war to rescue you!" It was only then that Will noticed Munro was covered in blood and gore as well "It's pande When the Vertas realized you were stealing the girl, they rose up and battled the Pravus back Kind of like a real alliance-who knee had it in us? By the by, rele with Malkom Slaine" He whistled low

Chloe began shivering even harder "We need to get to a witch healer Drive to Andoain" Will couldn't believe that he was de his brother take them to Louisiana's infamous coven, the bloody HOW

"We just cost theht"

They both shuddered

"Besides, others will be waiting for us there Brother, you ken this girl's theto just forget about her"

Because she was Webb's daughter The beast inside hiive a fk about that Will's newly recovered Instinct didn't

Munro asked, "What about a mortal hospital?"

"They'll be expecting us to go there Besides, I doona trust mortal quacks Sawbones, all of them"

"They've co way in the last century, Will"

"She ht be past their reach As much as I hate to say this, she needs mystical means We head to Loa's" Loa was a voodoo priestess with a curiosity shop in the Quarter "She sells witch potions Shetonic"

Munro sighed "Music to my ears" Loa was a comely one, with abundant curves and coffee-and-creaare of heart about your mate?"

"When I realized who her father was, I iood She talked about being a soccer player"

"Football, huh? Is that how your feical scars on one wrist, an ankle, and her right knee

"Doona be looking at her legs!" Will yanked her frock down, accidentally ripping the lower half clean away, leaving her in only the top of her gown, the e, and her sleek black underwear He took deep breaths to tamp down his beast Inhale Exhale Precarious moments passed

"Goodback to nor off Youto see what she looks like"

I' to behold h the bag's tie

With a shaking hand, he began to draw theher face

While Will worked to catch his breath, Munro glanced over "Ach, and there she is You lucky sod"

Her damp hair was sun-streaked, cropped close to her head Her lips were plump She sported freckles across her nose and cheeks Her cheekbones were proht be, but with her pointed chin, bee-stung mouth, and short locks, she looked like a wee pixie

He felt one corner of his lips curl -Yours- Had his arhtly around her?

Munro said, "Her ti is impeccable She's your lucky penny"