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His de memories, even before they were created

If Amun wanted to disappear forever, he could disappear forever

He could hide Haidee until he learned how to control the new demons himself Then…then he didn’t knohat he would do with her Bring her back, he hoped Do what needed doing, he prayed Because if he failed to learn the answers he needed, he would be stuck with Haidee forever, destroying his friends

Plus, Amun added, I plan to talk to her Learnto fool? Yourself orwith you brain right now, my man" The last was snapped, as if the warrior had reached the end of his patience

"You want to fuck her, end of story"

Wel , Amun had reached the end of his patience, too What we both know is that you aren’t thinking with your brain, either

There was a momentary splash of astonishment over Strider’s face before the warrior smoothed his features into a blank expression that matched his earlier tone "Stay out of ned I know you desire her

Now I’l hear you adht line of his teeth "Fine I want her But I’ to let it stopour war" At least he didn’t try to deny his feelings "Can you say the sa

"Funny That’s not what I et fro to his feet "I’ot your day, but I’d be careful if I were you When you least expect it, she’s gonna go for your head Guaranteed And maybe that doesn’t concern you Maybe you even want to die

Yeah, I sahat you did to yourself But guess what? Not for a single moment are any of the rest of us ready to deal with your loss So why don’t you think about that before you put your life on the line for our enemy?"

CHAPTER TEN

TWO SECONDS AFTER STRIDER barricaded himself inside his own bedroo Lucien He couldn’t deal with this He’d reached his bul shit li a friend who could flash froht

Within five minutes, his friend materialized a few feet away fro shal owly A sheen of sweat covered his entire torso

His ed around his severely scarred face, and his ht

He was shirtless, his butterfly tattoo practical y crackling with electricity on his left shoulder His unfastened pants were barely staying on his hips To top it al off, tension radiated fro?" Strider asked from his closet He’d already strapped himself eapons, but a few moments before had decided a couple more blades wouldn’t hurt Wel , wouldn’t hurt him

One of Lucien’s black brows practical y knitted into his hairline "Who the hel do you think I was doing?"

O-kay, then Lucien had been in bed with Anya For a ot how pissed he ith Amun and Haidee as he savored the fact that he’d just cock-blocked the keeper of Death

Almost "Anyone ever tel you that you shouldn’t check youraround in bed?"

"Yes Anya And believeto pay for this" His deep baritone was aht of incurring his volatile female’s wrath

"Here’s a news flash for you No es when I’ent of angels, when one of my men is sick, or when a Hunter is in residence And when al three are happening at once? I check even when I don’t have ? Why did you summon me? Amun okay?"

Strider shoved an extra clip for his 22 into his pocket as he abandoned the confines of the walk-in

"Aotta take off for a little while"

For his sanity, yes, but ile Haidee into his battered arms and carried her to his bed He had tucked her under the covers, so careful not to jostle her, and climbed in beside her Strider didn’t think Amun realized this, but the warrior had caressed the wo their entire conversation, as if the need to touch her was already ingrained in his soul

A sense of chal enge had begun to rise inside of Strider