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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
  27. 23
  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
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. 64
  69. 65
  70. 66
  71. 67
  72. 68
  73. 69
  74. 70
  75. 71
  76. 72
  77. 73
  78. 74
  79. 75
  80. 76
  81. 77
  82. 78
  83. 79
  84. 80
  85. 81
  86. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

“I’m not saying law enforcement will fail to do their job, but after the attack in Rune’s shop and the way you fought that bitch off—” Adam’s voice grew savage “—Deputy Dave and his buddies will be prone to believe anything you say.”

“I hope so, although when they see what happened in your shop...” She sighed. “Your sculpture is going to need to be cleaned.”

Adam thought that through. “Ah. Well. Today I sold it for a lot of money. But I don’t know. If it’s involved with a killing, will that enhance the value or decrease it?”

“The sculpture’s not damaged at all. I do suspect it will be confiscated as evidence, at least for a while.”

“Yes. It will. When you speak with law enforcement, I’ll be with you every moment. And Elle—” he hugged her, taking care not to tangle her hair in his chain mail “—I am so proud.”

“Yes.” Her voice trembled a little, but her chin was up. “We’ve both done good work today.”

A woman’s commanding voice spoke from the sidelines, breaking them apart. “Elladora, I could kill you for frightening me like this.”

78

ELLE SWUNG AWAY FROM ADAM. “Mom!” She turned back. “It’s my mother!” Then, arms outflung, she raced to the railing.

The woman there, in her forties, beautiful, fiercely smiling, looked like Elle’s older sister. She leaped the fence and ran to her daughter. They embraced, pulled back, looked into each other’s faces and embraced again.

“Tell me again why you didn’t call me?” Elle’s mother shook her.

“I almost got murdered. I didn’t remember you. Then, oh Mommy, it was wonderful and terrible and fearful, and Adam—” Elle extended her hand to Adam. “He saved me. He taught me to defend myself. I love him.”

Adam felt the thrill of her words from the crown of his head to the tips of his toes. She loved him.

Elle’s mother thrust her hand toward Adam. “Sofia Neely-Varela. And you are?”

“I’m Adam.” He felt the powerful need to add, “I saved her from death.”

“Twice,” Elle said.

“Really?” Sofia’s hand tightened on his.

“Really.” Elle must have had her own need to impress her mother, because she added, “Except for the last time when I saved myself.”

“She is so brave, and smart, and strong.” Finally, Adam couldn’t contain the question that had been rolling around in his mind. He looked at Elle. “And she said she’s going to marry me?”

“When you ask me.” Elle detached herself from her mother’s embrace and smiled into his eyes.

He looked around. Most of the crowd who had watched the battle had dispersed, headed toward the magic show. Yet somehow the word had gone out—something new was occurring in the arena, and they drifted back, phones raised and pointed toward them.