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"Of course not" Darren sounded nervous as he moved farther into the shadows

Zareb’s smile never reached his eyes "I didn’t think so" He looked at Cassie "And why do you think you should co

She fixed her gaze on the middle of his chest "If someone found Ethan’s home and attacked his friends, then who’s to say they don’t have a list of where all of you live? I don’t think Cat and I would do a great job of defending the old homestead"

"I’m certain that Cat is a ferocious warrior" Zareb’s lips tipped up in a brief smile

Ethan relaxed a little

"Besides, they killed my friend I want" She took a deep breath "I need to be there to see that they’re punished"

Zareb nodded "I understand the hunger for vengeance"

She corrected hied "Call it what you will You deserve to see them punished"

"You’re letting her co His maker didn’t do crap like this Stupid Who took a human into battle anyway?

Zareb moved toward the door "Yes"

Ethan didn’t even try to explain away his need to protect her "She’ll die"

"It’s her choice" Zareb’s expression said the decision was lared as he watched his maker head for the door "Do you still keep your weapons in the sa to arm her? Excellent idea I’ve learned that the least capable aht incentives" Then he left The other vampires disappeared after him

"And sometimes the ‘least capable’ have skills that could put your butt in the ground" Herof the door

Ethan would have sht now "You’d be a lot safer here"

Her gaze challenged him "I’ll be a lot ‘safer’ if I operate under the assu isn’t an option until these animals are stopped Because fro people, and a false sense of security could kill

He reached for another argument "What do you fear the most, Cassie?" Whatever it was, he’d use it to convince her to stay away fro to cook dinner for my whole faht, but at least it reached her eyes

"Right Won’t have to cook Garrity dinner" He searched his mind for a clue to her real fears

Then he rehbors: "I’ve been afraid of the dead all my life"

"Death You’re afraid to die" He knew he sounded triuood chance it could happen"

She ignored him

Frustrated, he watched her pull on a borrowed jacket If she was deterood it would do Ethan turned to head down the hallway He pulled open the door to the smallest bedroom, strode to the walk-in closet, and took the key froht behind hiet that key off the wall? I didn’t see a key there"

"You weren’t supposed to see it A cloaking spell Zareb wears many hats Sorcerer is one of thery as he felt

He could sense her rolling this latest bit of weirdness around in her ht

"Wow" Her hushed exclamation said it all

"Wow, indeed" He stepped inside the huge walk-in closet and studied the hundreds of weapons lining its walls "Can you shoot a gun?" As he spoke he lifted a sun from the wall

"Yes" She reached past him and chose a different one

He frowned "Why not the one I picked?"

"I’ve practiced with this one"

He watched as she chose aun She shoved it into her purse