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“I want a progress report before nightfall,” he ordered coldly,to the bathroom “And I want that bastard found, Dash I want him found and I want his blood”

He jerked open the bathroo the door carefully behind him

Stea beneath the spray Seth took just enough time to toe his shoes off before he jerked open the door to the large shower and felt his heart break with grief and pain

Daasn’t crying Dawn never cried How many times had he heard that over the years? Tears did not roll down her cheeks—instead they sliced through her soul She lifted her head and stared back at hiolden brown, and filled with pain, as she stared up at his pulled up to her bare breasts, her back against the shoall, the water falling around her

“You’re ruining your clothes” Her ars as he pulled her between his upraised knees, enclosing her in the shelter of his arms

“I’ll buy more” Seth kissed the top of her head as she rested her cheek against his chest

The was a long silence then, nothing but the sound of the water flowing around them as he rubbed at her back, her shoulders

Seth had never felt more helpless in his life than he did now He had no idea how to help her, how to ease her pain, and that sent additional fury pounding through his brain He wanted to smooth those shadows from her eyes, wrap her in safety and protection and never see fear in her face ever again

“I wish you had stayed in the house,” he finally sighed, his inadequacies rising inside him

What was he, that he couldn’t even protect the woman that meant more than life to him?

A sh and a dry sob, that sound tore at his heart

“You’re not made of steel”

“Neither are you, Dawn” He rubbed his cheek against her hair, his eyes closing at the smell of Paris with Love, that unique scent that had itsvial of shampoo and conditioner He would have to call the soap maker and request more of that scent It seemed to suit her

“You’re my mate, Seth,” she whispered “You’re more to me even than that I’ve trained to protect, not to hide in a dark room and be protected What happened was my fault I let my fury overwhelm me I didn’t take the proper precautions or he wouldn’t have taken me down so easily”

“He used a tranquilizer, Dawn” Disbelief filled his voice “You’re not immune to it, and you sure as hell can’t avoid that damned dart once it’s fired at you”