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"Don't you dare die yet, you son of a bitch," he bellowed, retracting the blade a fraction, as if by doing so he could lessen the severity of the wound enough to prolong Julian's life

Julian seized his opportunity Slowly, eyes shut, he sagged to the ground

That did it

"Merlin—get up!" Macall flung Aurora aside, grabbing Julian's coat to keep hi the blade at his heart and shaking him "Get up, you miserable bastard!"

Julian's eyes snapped open "Run, Aurora!" he shouted over Macall's surprised roar of anger "Get out of here!"

Aurora responded instantly, backing away fro off like a bullet

Relief—stark and absolute—coursed through Julian's soul

His relief was short-lived

Abruptly his wife slowed, and to Julian's astonish dead in her tracks awith terror as she saw the denized his intent "Wait!" she cried out as he drew back his sword, preparing to drive Julian through "Don't kill my husband—I couldn't live with myself if you did Julian doesn't knohere the diamond is Only I do"

The sword froze and Macall's head shot up, his pupils dilated with shock—and skepticism "Only you?"

"Yes—only I" Aurora wet her lips, clearly struggling for composure "As you said, I'm a Huntley Since you're obviously familiar with the history of the black diae—either then or nohere it was hidden"

"Aurora … don't…" Julian rasped "Do what I said … run … get away from here"

"Shut up," Macall ordered hi back into his gaze, replacing the wild-eyed insanity of ame

to believe that Merlinyou about where the stone was?"

"Of course he questioned me—many times That doesn't mean I answered his questions There are all kinds of ways of keeping a man's interest, Mr Macall"