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Where the gargoyles were, New England's most powerfulfamillefollowed, and so that meant...

Boston.

It was the Marchettis' stronghold, which was also an eight-hour flight from Paris. A lot could happen in eight hours. Not just to him. But...

Focus, Sauvage.

The sooner he was out of here, the sooner he would get to...her.

Une chose à la fois. One thing at a time.

A quick assessment of his bonds revealed amateur work, and he was able to free himself in moments. He got to his feet, intending to search for weapons—

NO.

The sound of explosion, ripping through the quiet forest, followed by birds screeching in panicked flight.

Liana.

He ran. Faster than his body would be able to sustain. Pushing his lungs beyond its capacity. All he could think about was her.

No, no, no.

The warehouse, or what remained of it, appeared through the trees. Half the structure had collapsed, the other half still submerged in infernal heat. And on the ground, shattered pieces of what were once stone gargoyles, fire turning their marred features into twisted smiles of agony.

"Liana!"

Heat singed his skin as he searched through the wreckage. But he felt nothing. Didn't care about anything except her.

S'il te plaît, mon Dieu.

He could not remember praying like this, not even that day he himself had been captured. But right now, he was willing to do anything. Everything. Even if it meant trusting what could not be seen—

S'il te plaît...

And that was when he heard it. A soft coughing sound from beneath a partially collapsed desk, and Sylvain worked like a madman, splinters piercing his flesh as he charged through flame-licked debris that took him closer and closer to Hell.

Not today, Satan.

Because he had finally found her, curled up and covered in dust and soot.

But alive.

Her eyes fluttered open as he crashed on his knees in relief.

"S-Sylvain?"

"Oui." His voice was hoarse, his hands shaking as he cupped her face. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, and he gathered her in his arms, cradling her against his chest.

"I thought I'd die."

"I won't let you."

A shaken laugh, but even with her still pale and shaking, her dazed blue eyes revealed the truth.

What he said, she believed, and in that moment, he also saw the truth in his own heart.