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Moments later, someone fell to his knees beside her She kneas the De, obviously the victor as the defeated wraith on the horse rode off

Mustering the vigor to open her eyes, though only to half-h his toraze made her heart hurt An additional physical pain almost impossible to bear

“Don’t move Don’t speak” He quickly slipped out of his cloak and draped it over her body

Another rider joined hian said, “It was a fire wraith You have his sword now and his horse is wounded But he’ll come back with a neeapon and a new steed”

“He wasn’t interested in killing her,” Darien said “Just hurting her enough to draw e flashed in his eyes “Bait me”

“Yes He must have realized your interest in Jade e started following her, perhaps thinking we knew he tracked her and were protecting her fro”

“Damn it!” Darien’s fist clenched, then released He swept his fingers over Jade’s cheek where tears and id froet her to the castle”

He gingerly rolled her onto her back and scooped her up in his arrace, she let out another cry as heat seared her froh her

“Sorry,” he whispered in a tight voice “Just hang on”

“Let an said

Darien stared down at her, his eyes holding a tortured look

She nodded, finding it difficult to speak

He handed her over and clian carefully passed her to hih to whisk her upward and cradle her against his body as she huddled in his lap His heat was a welcoh her teeth still chattered Her breath came in shallow pants because she couldn’t sloith the sheer agony she felt and the gripping cold

With one ar the reins, he said, “Your lips are turning blue and you’re tre Stay conscious so you can heal”

“Trying”