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Sabine felt like weeping "What doyou want?" She' d been so close

Just as Sabine heard the front door opening, Nïx said "Rydstrom's back with your sister"He'd already returned? "Nïx, Ineed "

"And he's about to find you out of bed-"

"Sabine!" Rydstrom's voice shook the walls of the ain She collapsed to the floor, dazed

"Do you want the sword, sorceress? Isn't that what you caave a weak nod in answer

N&iu it up As Sabine stared in astonishment, Nïx blinked at it, as if she didn't understand where it had come from

The Valkyrie scratched her head with her free hand "Ah!" She smiled, her face lit with realization "I knew that I'd cos: shove this into your heart or to play Wii And I forgot e directly into Sabine's chest

Eyes wild, Sabine sucked in a desperate breath, grasp' ing at the needle jutting fro at Nïx as she busily worked the combination on the armory

"The adrenaline will keep you conscious for a few an flowing through Sabine's body, Nïx unlocked the armory and whistled in a breath at the sword

46

Panic was about to overtake Rydstro for Sabine

Lanthe was trailing hi, "You lost my sister!"

His breath rushed out when he found Nïx in the main hall upstairs with Sabine in her aro check her mascara?"

He was about to yank Sabine fro Don't squish her all up"

With a nod, he took Sabine, gently cradling her

Sabine gazed up at him "Rydstroh of that He wants to take you Count yourself fortunate, Sabine"

"Ah, gods, Abie!" Lanthe rushed to her side

Sabine weakly reached for her sister, then drew back her poisonous hand "Lanthestay beside meno matter what Omort says"

Lanthe shook her head "But he'll make me leave"

"You can bepersuasive"

For some reason the sister ide-eyed Rydstrom didn't have ti in Sabine, and she stiffened in his ar shut

"Lanthe, we've no time to spare," he said They'd lost hours before they'd found her wandering the streets, looking for Sabine "We leave for the portal right now"

At the front door, Cadeon aiting with Holly, his wife, who Rydstrom only saw briefly before Ryd­stroazed up at Cadeon with concern and obvious love in her eyes

Cadeon moved to block Rydstrom's way "Let the sorceress's sister take her There's no reason for you to risk yourself like this"