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A feround to a halt to avoid plowing into her "You’re Lord Kane" A giggle filled thethe soft hu the center of his chest "I’ve been so eager to ry retort and set her aside

Another girl ht a few of her friends The females circled him, wolves intent on their prey, and rapid-fired comments at him

"Ask me to dance, Lord Kane Please"

"Let’s adjourn to the balcony I have a present I’d love for you to unwrap Hint--it’s ht with his ht I pro I’d be willing to do is spank the living hell out of you for accosting a stranger," he said "This is ement ball, and you think it’s okay to coht it was okay to chase down Tink?

Whatever

He barreled past the floundering females Finally he reached Tink and the tension inside hilances "You shouldn’t be talking to uests had discarded in the oddest places--and he cursed himself for what he’d done with his own

"When have I ever done what I’m supposed to do?" he asked

"Point taken Now leave"

Disaster purred his approval

Anger sparked "Why are you acting like this?"

"Why are you still here?"

He gnashed his teeth "You want me, Tink Don’t try to pretend otherwise"

"Are you so desperate for compliments?" She tried to maneuver away from him, but he herded her in the other direction, away fro? Stop I’ you one"

"It’s not a compliment I want from you, Tink It’s information Why have you run from me today?"

She wiped a few droplets of liquid fro her forehead into her hand "Because! Whatever you want froive it to you"

Because of Synda Because he hadn’t yet broken things off Guilt had hi away He spotted Red’s determined approach and realized it was just aKane latched onto Tink’s arm and hauled her toward the secret doorway he’d used

He had her inside in less than a blink Anyone watching would have had trouble tracking the ?" she deh his hair A taythem to peer inside the ballroo where we just were?" He pointed "The ones froroaned "Yes I see them"

"They want you for their own They want to use your ability to remove the war, famine and death from their bodies"

"More enereat!" She whirled on him, eyes narrowed but no less ablaze "Do you knohat this means?"

"Yes I’m a disaster," he said hollowly "I know"

She peered at hi while, and whatever she saw in his expression calmed her down Her shoulders stooped "No, that wasn’t what I was going to say"

"Why not? It’s true"

She shook her head "They’re trouble Another threat against you"

"And you" He stepped closer to her She stepped back, widening the distance He took another step, and another, and she did the sao The wall behind her stopped her retreat

He leaned down and rubbed his nose against hers Contact with her was as necessary as breathing

She closed her eyes, as if pained "How do you do this to me, Kane?" she whispered

"Do what?"

"Make "

He heard only tords--want you He h she remained closed to hih hiht

Never, Disaster spat