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She shook her head and let out a soft laugh “Stop talking about this You’d be an ogre if you kneith Michael, and I wouldn’t wish that on Sheena, Jocelyn and Morgan Or your horse”

His tense jaw loosened “You have a point They ht resort to mutiny”

“Never They’re loyal to you Devoted enough to help a human you care about”

“I do care about you,” he said in a fierce tone “That’s why I have to stay away from you If the fire wraith returns and erto me He’ll leave you alone”

She snuggled close to him “And yet, here you are…”

“Well, there’s always the chance I can talk you into returning to the castle with me until we’ve resolved this issue”

Yes, in the back of hiswithher immortal And it was true he could force her hand He had the authority to deue deo with hih to know she’d be miserable away from her home for an extended period of time

Not to ers would be in an absolute uproar over hiain

“I can follow your strategy for now,” she said, her breath warainst his neck “I’ll continue to let the slayers escort e otherwise until the trouble passes”

Her agreehtly at ease But it still irritated him that he had no control over her full protection Not unless he ordered her to follow his coetting killed, she’d be miserable anyway So he had to find a compromise Strike a balance

“You won’t be left to fend for yourself, I assure you,” he said “But after tonight, I’ll need to continue to keep an ah I’ve tired of you The fire wraith will find another tactic to engage me, which won’t involve you”

She was quiet a ht?”

He grinned, despite the piercing sensation in his heart over her hint of doubt “You already know the answer to that You called my bluff, after all”

Her sigh of relief blew against his skin, le “So it would be hell for you if I were to marry Michael?”