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no cavalry would be arriving

As I struggled with Daniel, the dark-haired dai on his knees and the lazy smile splayed across his face, he looked like he was about to talk about the weather withon here?"

Daniel released led totoward her I couldn’t help the h e with a critical eye I only saw the glamour I couldn’t see her true form

I was so screwed

"Eric?" She directed her scowl at the dark-haired one

"Your daughter… she’s not happy with the current state of things"

I couldn’t pul my eyes off of her as she stepped over a piece of broken wood "My daughter better not have one hair on her head lanced over at Daniel "Her hair is perfectly fine

She’s fine So is the other half-blood"

"Oh Yes" She turned to Caleb "I re along either way Stupid, but sweet"

"Mom" My voice cracked

She turned to , beautiful smile

"Lexie?"

"Please… " I sed "Please let Caleb go"

She tsked and shook her head "I cannot al ow that"

My insides twisted "Please He… just, please"

"Baby, I can’t I need him" She reached out and brushed back my hair, the way she used to I flinched, and she frowned "I knew you would couilt and the fear would eat at you What I didn’t plan on was hi to stay"

"You could let hio" My chin trembled

Her hand drifted downto ensure that you cooperate with h this I won’t let theh to be hopeful There was catch, probably a big and terrible one

She stepped away, turning her attention to the two male daimons "What have you told her?"

Eric’s chin ca"

My mother nodded Her voice was the same, but I realized as she talked, it lacked what actual y had made it hers There was no softness in it, no emotion It was hard, flat--not hers "Good" She faced , Lexie I love you very, very ainst the walHer words hurt more than any physical blow could "How can you love me?

You’re a daimon"

"I’m stil your mother," she replied in the same flat tone,

"and you stil love me That’s why you didn’t kil me when you had the chance"

An act and truth I was already regretting, but looking at her now, I could only see her--Mo myself to see the daimon, the monster inside of her

When I opened my eyes, she was stil the sao back to the Covenant I cannot al ow that I have to keep you away froaze fel to Caleb Daniel inched his way closer to hi as the bastard didn’t touch hiain

"I need to keep you away fro that "What?"

"He wil take everything fro He is the First, Lexie Whether he knows it or not, he wil drain everything fro left of you when he is done

The Council--they know this They don’t care Al they want is the God Kil er, but Thanatos wil never al ow that to happen"

I backed up, shaking my head Mom was utterly crazy

"They don’t care what it wil do to you I can’t al ow that

Do you understand?" She stalked forward, co to a stop in front of me "That’s why I must do this I must turn you into a daiht I would pass out

"I have no other choice" She caughtit to where her heart beat She held it there "As a daier than you are now You wil be ihteen you wil be unstoppable"

"No" I pul ed my hand back "No!"

"You have no idea what you are saying ‘no’ to I thought I lived before, but now I a" She held her free hand in front of ers once, then twice A tiny spark flew froertips, and then her entire hand was on fire

I jerked back, but her grip increased on my hand