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Her eyes were huge, and there was a slight tremble in her lower lip

Gently, I cupped her face and turned her toward me so I could brush a kiss over her lips “I don’t need you to say it back, Jocelyn I don’t even want you to say it back, not like this And I’ banishment But if it comes between the Assassins and your throne, for you—I will choose you” Because a life without her was uniinable

“They’d never let you go,” she whispered, her brow furrowing

“You underesti Alek, Lachlan, or Ransom wouldn't do for their mates Once we’re bonded like this, it’s acutely painful to be separated I’d never put you—oron her lower lip “I’ as that is, it doesn’t mean that you have to make a choice, because I will”

Alek would understand He’d be pissed, but he’d either find a way to keep o

“Benedict—” she started

My phone rang, and a quick glance at the nightstand showed Lachlan’s na across the caller ID

A chill swept over ed the blanket over her shoulders before answering the call “This had better be important, Lachlan”

“We have an e the witch”

The house stood eerily silent against the backdrop of the forest

“You’re sure this is the house?” Zachariah asked, his voice hushed as we studied the sprawling mansion

“This is the Baldwins’ place,” Ransom answered “They sent out the distress call”

“Hawke and Ajax take the back entrance,” Lachlan ordered, his jaw set in a grim line

Nothing about this felt right There were no sounds co fro ancient filled the air

“You getting that, too?” Dagon asked, his eyes narrowing on the house

“S to identify the scent

“Ancient,” Jocelyn answered from my side

She wore a set of Olivia’s leathers and had her hair braided back fro every bit the warrior she was I hated that she saw herself as her mother’s weapon Weapons were used, handled, unleashed Jocelyn was anything but someone else’s play toy

Hawke and Ajax took off for the back of the house, while Zachariah and Talon took the sunroo us at the front I was honestly shocked Lachlan had ed to pry Hawke out of the manor He’d practically taken up residence outside Avianna’s doorway since she’d returned four days ago

She had yet to speak

“Let’s go,” Lachlan said, alreadytoward the front door