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He’d sensed her anxiety, she realized No wonder he’d been so eager to talk about himself He’d wanted to prove to her that she could rely on him He was the sweetheart "Thank you"

"Welco her Oh, yes, she had a decision to h, after watching Johnny hit that , she wasn’t sure that was a viable option Yet that was the only way they could connect Truly connect

Forever

Still such a scary word, but not as scary as the thought of losing him Maybe she could do this Maybe she could try "So ere you kicked out of the underground?" she asked, picking up their conversation

"For allowing Bride to live For lying to the king about who she was For bringing her back with the intension of wedding her"

Bride again Ugh "You once said lying was for people who feared consequences"

"Yes, and I feared being without her"

Sto … Old fear alert, old fear alert, her brain screah Bride had been his first choice He’d lied for her, given up everything for her So what did that make Ava? Second choice? Oh, God, oh, God, oh, God Yes, old fears They’d never really left her, she realized They’d merely waited for their chance to pounce

She was tired of theht the back underground?"

He began tracing the veins in her hand again "At first, yes I think some of the army would follow me, did I ask, and attack the royal house Which would need to happen for o back?"

"Now I know too many lives would be lost Besides, I have no desire to rule the vampire world Palace life …" He shuddered "The balls, the deciding of everything for everyone People constantly invading s No Unless …" He frowned "Would you like to be a queen?"

"No" Hell, no

"You’re sure?"

A queen of vas? Her, just herself "Completely sure"

He pushed out a relieved breath "Good"

Had he been considering fighting his people? For her? "Are you sure the king won’t send that army of his to hunt you? The ones ouldn’t follow you if you returned?"

"Not completely, but he knows I could destroy them all, and I doubt he’ll risk it He hasn’t yet Now tellyou haven’t told anyone Even Noelle"

The car stopped, and she peered out theDallas’s building cah her "Yet another thing for us to do later," she replied, and commanded the door to open Not that she knehat to tell hied from the driver’s side and walked to the sidewalk, where Noelle and the others already waited McKell exited, unfolding his big, strong body, and towering over everyone Even Jeremy Deschanel, as pale and tense From worry about his brother? Had he even been allowed to see him?

Ava approached Jere gesture "He was given vampire blood," she said, and Jeremy’s eyes widened No, he hadn’t been allowed to visit, and he hadn’t been given an update "There’s a chance he’ll heal"

"So he’s alive?"

"Yes"

"Thank you" His eyes squeezed shut "Thank you so much He’s an asshole, but I love hi her away fro hi strands of her hair That pleased her She’d just reacted to Bride; helped that he’d reacted to Jeremy

"Everyone will remain outside," McKell said in his calling with the ones already there"

"Wait" Ava circled her fingers around his wrist, holding hiht’s activities, so we’ll tell theaze swept over the trainees, and solared at her resentfully She’d made it, after all, and they hadn’t "I’ve decided You’ll all stay out here"’

"I’ll keep them in line," Noelle said with relish "Oh, and here" She handed Ava a digital info-pad as she faced him "You’ll need this"

"Give her any trouble," McKell said, "and I will personally reers" He pulled his necklace froether as they fell back to his chest

"Now, then I’ on the pad as she faced hi sardonic and amused at the same time "One day you’ll have to learn to obey ed him forward Behind her, someone en suddenly burned her throat, her h her line of vision She whipped around, a knife in her hand, though she didn’t recall withdrawing it

"Who said that?" she deritted teeth

Noelle pointed to thebeside Jere

Following those red dots, which foret, Ava stalked forward Until McKell’s hard hands once again settled on her shoulders, stopping her

She fought for release "I will murder you"

"No need, sweetheart," McKell said, and he sounded happier than she’d ever heard him "I’m not offended by the comment"

Why was he happy? Not that his happiness would have prevented her fro No, it was the "sweetheart" that caled affection she rarely entertained Yet … when he did it … rainbows and gumdrop trees always seemed to sprout in her mind

"He needs to suffer," she huffed