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"No," she replied with apparent subht—I don't want to die in such a horrid manner I'm ready to continue our walk"

"Excellent" The viscount released her, gesturing a short distance aith the barrel of the gun "We have only to go a bit farther—to the top of this peak The cove is around back, a carefully hidden niche in the stone"

Aurora followed his gesture, noting that their goal was indeed nearby Flanked by tering cliffs, the top of the peak was narrow, the space separating it froer peaks narrower still

"The path is quite cramped as it rounds back," Guillford announced "Only one of us can pass at a tiht, even for those few seconds—but my concerns were put to rest by the little talk we just had However, heed what I said and don't do anything foolish"

"I won't"

"Good Now move" Another hard jab of his pistol

Raising her chin, Aurorathe forty or fifty paces to the top of the ridge, then flattening herself against it, easing her way around the specified curve

For a split second she was out of Guillford's reach

It was enough time for her miracle to occur

A flash of move the path as a dark figure crashed down, landing precisely where Aurora had stood not an instant earlier

She heard Lord Guillford's shout of pain and surprise, and without hesitating, she scooted back around the curve, her eyes widening as they confirmed what her heart already knew

Julian

Having knocked Guillford down, he was in the process of kicking aside the viscount's pistol, sending it sailing across the ground

The Merlin had struck

"Get the gun, Aurora," Julian yelled the instant he spied her "Shoot him"