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She walks slowly over to a framed map of the forest It shows the lake and the curved creek cutting through the trees It shows the university observatory My eyes drift to the small meadow not on the map where I met Koa for the first time My Koa… A cramp twists my stomach

“The toas founded by five very powerful fah the heart of Woodland Creek, and near it is a se t

o Hayden’s world, the underworld, where he rules”

Instinctively, I wrap , and I do want that scotch now “What’s a ley line?”

“It’s a straight fault line in the earth’s tectonic plates Magnetic energy and h them They draw mystical creatures and occult phenomena”

“Why haven’t you told me about this before?”

“Like I said, I first hoped you ht find hiet the High Council to end our fahter to be handed over to hiacy would be to end his claim on us I’m sorry I failed you”

It all ined Dylan doesn’t hateto disht to dream them in the first place My hopes have only ever been castles in the sand Now a cyclone is blowing them all away

“What if I talk to him?” My voice is barely above a whisper “I could ask Hayden to let ht say yes”

“Oh, Mercy,” she laughs bitterly “You’re so sheltered and naïve He ht dinners, but Hayden Cross is very serious about his property”

NO! I ao doithout a fight I’ht not be able to take on the fucking Lord of the fucking Underworld using self-defense maneuvers, but I can talk to him, reason with him

Self-preservationist anger burns in o there and talk to him myself I’ll make him listen to me”

Her brow creases “This is his house” She rounds, theIt’s how he ensures on’t renege on the deal” She sighs wearily “But that’s not all…”

“Are you trying to say it could possibly get worse?”

“The way the pact is written, if we refuse to hand you over, he has the right to slaughter our entire fao that far”