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Husband Gods, he was aht for Sabine, never, no matter how much she'd needed them to-

One slammed Rydstrom's massive body into a roof support The shaft seemed to quake all around theh with her hands behind her back

When the ian to splinter, she screamed Rydstrom's name

With a roar, he took her by the waist and tossed her out of the way-just as the ceiling of thearound hiain she was helpless, coughing, only able to wait Would heHeartbeat, heartbeat Damn it, stupid demon, don't die! Don't-

Rydstro freely froed Brows

draith feeling, he dropped to his knees before her, still de into her eyes

She was overcoratitude that he'd saved her

Then she remembered that she was one of the most powerful Sorceri ever born

This damsel in distress could have defeated this entire pack in moments Except her husband had bound and tied her and htly, she almost cried out She felt when a sound renched froroan

War hi her head to his chest, keeping her there with his big palm

She was infuriated that any of this had happened at all when it could have been avoided By keeping her tied, he'd risked her life

But was she ry that she'd been jeopardized- or because he'd been?

He finally drew back, his gaze flickering over her, assessing her injuries His eyes darkened at every bruise When he eased her skirt up, his Adaht find

"They didn't rapefor control, and his dee receded

When he smoothed blood from her lips, she flinched from his hand

"Sabine, I'm here-"

"And I'm beaten Trussed up like a present for their convenience"

He took a swath from the ripped tunic and tied it over her brsts, then he scanned the cas He left her side only to retrieve her boots "If they intended to sell you as a slave, they wouldn't have struck your face, unless er"

"Yes, I taunted theht?"

He returned with her boots, then pulled the at hi his own anshen asked why he'd goaded Oht come" Rydstrom helped her to her feet "We have to leave this place"

"You're not going to free ry that you were vulnerable I should have been ilant"

"Damn you, Rydstrom, you won't release me even after this? I was defenseless! You saved me, yes, but you put me in this situation in the first place Just like when I saved you fro you into Tornin Are you happy, deet your parity oncehad happened to youDaloths aren't the only threats out here," she said "There are beasts froend As you know, I could drown"

"I also know that you'll run away from me at the ear­liest opportunity" When she shook her head to deny it, he said, "There's not a doubt into stay with me was a lie Noe don't have time for this I won't be et out of these urabbed her arm to hasten her from this place, she let hih the murky tun-nel for what seemed like miles, until they reached the surface at last