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Chapters (86)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. Booklist
  4. Dedication
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
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  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
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  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
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  75. 71
  76. 72
  77. 73
  78. 74
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  80. 76
  81. 77
  82. 78
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  84. 80
  85. 81
  86. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

“We’ll stay home for the next few days, away from town where there’s cover for a sniper.” She helped him into a button-up shirt and came around to fasten it. “I’ll call and order groceries at the Gothic General Store.” She finished and stepped away. “Do you have anything in particular you want to eat? I warn you, I may have talents, but I suspect gourmet cooking is not one of them.”

“Let’s stock up on Angelica’s prepared meals. The menu is tacked on the bulletin board.” He handed her his phone. “The number is programmed in.”

She called and made the order for the next four days, then hung up. “We have food on its way. What do you want to do now?”

Adam went out to the shop, Elle trailing behind. “I’m going out to practice for the GSPF.”

“The sword work? Now?” She wanted to ask if he should wait at least one day before indulging in such vigorous physical activity. But he was Adam. He had promised to perform at the Gothic Spring Psychic Festival, and he would do so to the best of his ability.

He took the sword off the wall, grasped the handle in his left hand and gave it a swing. The long, heavy sword was weighted for a two-handed grip, but Adam lifted it and thrust as if the sword was an extension of his arm. He moved so gracefully, Elle forgot his injury and watched for the pleasure of seeing him move. And thought hungrily that a man who moved like that would be a pleasure to dance with...and make love to.

Should she be so seriously considering that development? She, who didn’t even remember her whole first name? In the first days of fear and recovery, only her own emotional recovery had mattered. Now as her world expanded beyond her own self-awareness, she wondered, Did she have a family somewhere? A husband, a lover? Someone besides her mother who she loved and cherished? A child?

She needed to know, and she needed to know now before she got more involved with him, as she so deeply desired. Taking a breath, she closed her eyes and searched her mind for the shadows of emotions.

She stood on the top of the highest mountain. Other mountains surrounded her, rocky, snow-capped, frozen. She breathed in the frigid air and knew she had achieved the height alone, without the help of anyone. She depended on no one but herself. No one depended on her. And she straddled that peak without fear and with pride. And she waited for—