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"Thank you" He regarded her for a long beat "I think"

"That doesn’t mean, however, I intend to spend my life with you"

"But you will, you know," he assured in a dropped voice, a sensuous rasp overlaying his words "It is our destiny"

Darcy shivered There was no doubt the netised to make her knees a bit weak But Darcy wasn’t interested in the raw, consu tenderness of her vaht of Styx sent an unexpected flare of pain through her heart

Even though she was furious with hiood reason, she couldn’t deny she missed him

When he was at her side she felt no fear, no uncertainty

She felt complete in a way that had no basis in sense or reason

"I’m not much of a believer in destiny I prefer to think I have so around her waist Suddenly she felt cold to the bone "Kind of ridiculous when you consider the situation I’m in, isn’t it?"

The pureblood abruptly shifted in discoe wariness

"Darcy, ca to cry, are you?"

She sniffed, surprised to discover that she was indeed on the verge of tears

The realization stiffened her spine as nothing else could have Dang it She wasn’t about to shed tears over an arrogant vae hiusted shake of her head "I’ ridiculously unnerved by the thought that he ht have to deal with a weepy female, Salvatore cleared his throat

"I fear I can do little about the tired and scared, but I aesture toward his co to his side, the Incredible Hulk performed a deep bow The black T-shirt protested, but it didn’t burst open, as Darcy half expected

"Yes, rowling than speaking

"Go to the nearest restaurant and bring back Ms Solden eyes swept toward Darcy "Do you have a preference?"

She was too hungry to reject his offer Besides, she couldn’t deny a saze thatdangled just above the

"No meat," she said with more emphasis than was precisely needed

Both men’s jaws dropped open in astonishment "No meat?" Salvatore demanded "Are you serious?"

"Why wouldn’t I be serious? I’etarian"

"Impossible," Salvatore breathed, clearly shocked

"What’s wrong?" she demanded "There are a lot of people who don’t eat etables"

"But not a--" The pureblood abruptly cut off his words, his features snored her question as he turned toward his co that doesn’t include e man’s throat "My lord, I don’t think I should leave you alone here This could be a trap"

Salvatore narrowed his gaze "A very clever trap considering that it is full daylight and not even the most determined vampire would dare creep froer"

"True enough, but I’m not helpless"

"I still think I should stay" Hess turned his head to bare his teeth at Darcy "I don’t trust this woan to protest only to choke off with a gasp when Salvatore lazily backhanded thea startled yip, themouth

"This woman is destined to be your queen, Hess,"

Salvatore said in a dark tone "And more importantly, I have warned you more than once that when I want your opinion I’ll ask for it Until then, you will do as I command without question? Do you understand?"

"Yes,to his feet, Hess performed a bow, then backed aith obvious caution

Darcy waited until Hess disappeared into the trees and the hovering sense of violence slowly eased before breathing a deep sigh

"Cripes"

Salvatoreonly when Darcy tensed at his proxihtened you, cara," he soothed "Curs are unruly by nature, and Hess more so than most It makes him a less than dependable servant"

She wet her suddenly dry lips "He wasn’t the one who frightened me," she said slowly "Do you always hit your servants like that?"

He shrugged "We are olves, Darcy, not humans And, like all deth I a just because I am a pureblood It is my power that makes me a leader"