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She laid his body flat, heedless of the bloody leaves and sticks littering the ground, and breathed into his ain

Then she felt it A spark of power arcing between theirhis way back

"Don’t you dare leave me," she told him "I need you"

The pool of power inside him eak, but she si-phoned off what she could and used it to knit his skin back together She didn’t knohat she was doing, but she had to try so out

She covered his ain, but this tis and kissed her in return

His tongue slid over her lips and a low ood So alive Her heart overfloith relief and gratitude

His arms wrapped around her and he sat them both up Hiswith eain," he ordered

She knehat he wanted to hear She could feel the hint of insecurity still lingering inside of him, and she loved him so much, she couldn’t deny him "I love you"

His eyes fluttered closed in pleasure "God, that sounds good"

He grabbed his borroord from where it had landed in the leaves, knelt in front of her, and sliced a shallow cut over his heart "My life for yours, Andra Forever and always"

Blood dripped down his chest,her already twisty sto that I just patched you up"

He ignored her complaint and looked at her with such intensity she wanted to look away "Give me your vow I need it"

He needed her Forever That hat he wanted, and it scared the hell out of her

Even so, even though she was afraid to tie him to a wo hio He’d seen all her failures He knew she’d let a lot of people she loved down He knew she’d let them die And still he wanted her Trusted her

It huth to trust herself She wasn’t perfect, but she didn’t have to be He would always be there for her when she eak He would always be there for her, period

"I need you, too So, as long as you don’t get sick of ht there by your side"

As the warmth of her promise settled over her, a smile of masculine satisfaction curled his et sick of you"

"Maybe I should rephrase my vow, then," she teased

"Oh, no, you don’t I’ve got you right where I want you Forever" He pulled her close and bent his head to kiss her just as the first rays of sunrise broke through the trees

Chapter 30

Andra held her breath Sibyl stood by Nika’s bed Tynan had used all the power he’d collected to heal those injured in the attack on Dabyr and had none left to help Nika, at least not for another week, so Sibyl was Nika’s best chance right now

Paul was at her side, his strong ar so in her since they’d arrived hoe a place as it was

Sibyl frowned and pressed her little hand to Nika’s forehead A moment later, she pulled back as if burned

"Poor child," said Sibyl "If she is to recover, it will not be by your hand"

Andra leaned against Paul, ith disappoint "What do youI can do?"

"I’ht inside her She felt helpless Even with all the power she possessed now, she still couldn’t help Nika

"There is hope, though," said Sibyl "You rescued me, so I will offer you this boon"

"What? Any hope you can give me is more than welcome"

"There is one here who can heal her I cannot see who he is, but I feel that he’s already begun the process"

"He? So, not Grace?"

"No Not Grace She is a healing soul, and gives Nika great comfort, but that is all"

"So what do I do?" asked Andra

Sibyl gave her a sht-year-old should possess "Nothing"

"Nothing?"

"You’ve done all you can You brought her here That will either be enough or it won’t"

"And you can’t tell?"

"No, I won’t tell It is no longer ure out what sheup with all the cryp tic stuff "What do you mean, it’s not your turn?"

Sibyl tilted her head,her curls bob "You are a sister You knohat it is like to have to share Didn’t you ever learn to take turns?"

Paul’s body tensed beside her "Are you saying that Maura can see things the way you can?"