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My elf thrall was on his knees, stared down at his ex-wife, his complexion ashen, sickly.

“We have to go,” Paris implored.

Elio didn’t budge.

I sensed a new truth about this elf and Paris I couldn’t quite place.

A closer explosion sent tremors through the floor. It wouldn’t be long before this building went up with the others as the violence spread.

I took the two elves, their bodies light to me, and charged out of the diner. Neither of them made a sound, simply held on tight as I launched myself into the air.

Chapter Eight

Paris

Iwatched the city burning below, the flames vicious lines cutting across the streets.

My heart ached, my stomach roiled, and it took everything not to break down into a hot mess of anguish.

Those poor people. Whatever Aidan tried to say about me, and no matter the reality of being a hated relic from the vampire war, I cared. Deeply. I wasn’t a fucking monster.

From what I could make out, there were still no guardians fighting back, no soldiers storming the streets. Because Aidan had control of them. The city was his playground.

No more looking.

I clung to Silvanus, closing my eyes and burying my face into his neck to keep the world at bay.

Yeah, if I stayed right here in this position, I’d be okay. Safe.

Funny! Tell another one!

The wind whistled in my ears, the cold slap of the night air enough to help numb me, putting a potential mental spiral on ice.

This was too much to deal with right now, especially without access to mistrock cigs and beer.

“I’ll take you somewhere safe,” Silvanus said, his voice a life raft of deep sensuality.

I quivered, pressing myself harder against him, my knee bumping Elio’s, who clung to the king’s left side.

The vampire carried us with expert ease, providing a comfortable flight.

Brother.

Brother.

Brother.

Shut up!

But where would be safe? Aidan tracked me constantly, never letting up. We were still bound, the curse intact.

He’d been wrong about how to break it. Interesting. But whatever. There was no hiding from him. We might as well sit in the middle of a field and wait for him to attack me again.

Only, would he? His plans had blown up in his face, so the fucker needed to reset. To find the real means to free himself outside of me confessing to Silvanus.

Maybe that was the only way to break the curse.

Shit. I had to be careful here. Super careful. No more of this closeness, no being alone together. I had to keep my tongue tied, any silly feelings kept under lock and key.