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“By whom?”

“By many seers, including my grandmother.”

“That’s definitely a kicker.”

“And what do you want, Ella?”

She tried to laugh. “I’ve never been a long-term planner, you know that.”

“And I know why. You didn’t think you’d have a life to plan, did you?”

She shook her head.

“Is it still all too much for you?” He spoke very gently, his words barely reaching her on the breeze, as if he was afraid of startling her.

“What do you mean?”

“Me, the mating bond, the prospect of us being together…”

“About that. You’re immortal, right?”

“Technically, yes. But you could kill me, or I could choose to die for you.”

She grimaced. “Neither of those options appeal to me at the moment. Why would you evenwantto come back to the SBLE, where you have to pretend to be something you’re not, and hide your powers and true self?”

“Feehan knows what I am now. I won’t need to hide anymore.”

She pointed at him. “You can’t walk down the street looking like that!”

“Other shape-shifters manage to live in your world. I’m sure I’ll find a way to stretch my wings occasionally. Why are you offering me so many reasons not to come with you?”

“I’m not, I’m just trying?—”

“What if I asked you live in Otherworld with me?”

“I…”

He smiled as she stuttered into silence. “It’s all right, I’m not that stupid. Forcing you to make such a choice at this moment would only result in you storming back to San Francisco alone.” He studied her. “Perhaps that is what you’d prefer—an ultimatum, a reason to walk away.”

“That’s not fair. I haven’t insisted you come back with me, have I? I’ve tried to give you a choice.”

His eyes flashed fire. “You won’t force a decision on me, because you’re afraid I’ll take you up on it. You’re afraid I’ll walk and leave you, like everyone else has done.”

That hurt. She drew in an unsteady breath. “I’m scared, Morosov.”

“Of me?”

“No. Of myself.”

“I can’t fix that, can I?” He sighed and walked toward her and she tensed. He held out his hand.

“We still have a job to do. The rest can wait until later. Let’s go back to the SBLE and close this case once and for all. “

17

They materialized in her office.Ella blinked up at Vadim, who had already resumed his human form. She touched his starched white shirt.

“I actually miss the feathers. How weird is that?”