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"You will not mention her!" he says vehemently "Do not!"

But my body is released, and Valerian, slowly, aze It’s wide, white, with pinpoint red pupils

They stare at ive another command It comes out of the blue, yet soins to quiver, and his eyes widen farther still His face contorts, but not into his vae He seems to contort into pain

More

A sob--male, throaty, and desperate--escapes from him His body shakes uncontrollably He drops to the floor I stand over hiulation

Valerian’s body thrashes uncontrollably; his hands fly to his neck as choking noises gurgle frohhis skin With my mind, I force the delusion on hih I hear the voice, I can’t takewith finally finding a loved one’s killer run through uish Itsimilar to what my mother experienced when she died What all of those innocent people experienced All because of selfish, pathetic Valerian

On h, a sheath is strapped I reach for the blade, the silver turning cool in h his flesh Ending his sorry fucking existence

"No, chère," the voice said caloes to my shoulder Gently Firister

The first one I see is Eli

Behind him, Noah, Phin, Jake, Darius, Gabriel, Seth, and Victorian

"You can’t kill him," Victorian says "No matter that you want to"

I look down at Valerian His body is still now, staring up athi

"We’ll take hiht," Victorian says, then puts a hand on my shoulder "It’s over, Riley"

Eli moves close, almost between Victorian and me

The two stare off at one another

"My team and I will accompany you and your brother back to Romania," Jake Andorra says to Victorian

Victorian nods, but keeps his gaze locked on to mine "I ot hily, Victorian looks at Eli "Do you mind?"

My eyes flash to Eli’s, and I know his answer before he says it

"Hell yes, I mind But she doesn’t Go ahead And keep your hands to yourself"

Anger is surfacing inside me, and maybe it’s because I already knohat Victorian is about to tell rasp y little concrete roos low, ht pours frole lah to cast Victorian’s beautiful face into odd planes and shadows

"I never wanted Valerian to have you," he begins "I tried my best to warn you away, but I was powerless in my tomb I knew of your lover, and of Valerian’s plan to have hiuish forces his features into a frown "I couldn’t stop hier than me Even entombed"

He places a hand on my jaw and tilts e things I wish I could bring your mother back"

My heart eases a bit Valerian’s power over Victorian is just as easily believed as his power over me "I understand, Vic" I place my hand over his, at my jaw "It’s okay" It’s not okay, but it’s not Vic’s fault I know that

"I’ll make sure his punishment is delivered," he says "I vow it"