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“Will she survive, Elizabeth?” Ria asked as her grandmother moved to her, Leo close on her heels, as he alas

“If she’s strong enough, Ria If she’s strong enough”

Elizabeth patted her ar around his wife to pull her close to his side as they followed Callan and Merinus

Seconds later, Horace Engalls, his wife and Phillip Brandenuard, their expressions both furious and terrified

It was over, Ria thought As Mercury turned her to the doors and they moved to leave the party, she let herself believe it was finally over

“We have about eight hours,” Mercury growled at her ear as they entered the lined to the car whisked them from the ball that had nearly turn

ed into a blood-bath “Do you think that’s enough time?”

He lifted her to his lap, bent his head to her lips and licked her, with heat, with gentleness

“I won’t let you go,” she whispered “I can’t”

He touched her hair, her face “Do you think I want to be free, Ria?”

“What if she’s your ht, and she was meant to be your mate?”

He shook his head “She’s not ht here, in my arms”

“I love you, Mercury,” she whispered on a soft, almost hidden sob “I love you too much”

“Never too much, sweet Ria Never too much”

The anihed in content the animal that reached out to him from the woman as well