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“I was fucking joking,” the prince replied from behind them.

“To think they’ve kept our race alive all this time.” Ari shook his head. “That’s the fucking miracle.”

Smiling, Mack pulled out his phone and gave in to the need to message Ella. He was leaving soon and while they were all shit talking, that was nerves.

He typed a message.

I need to see you. X

...

...

...

Fuck.

Why wasn’t she replying?

He couldn’t get on the Moretti jet without seeing Ella and saying goodbye. The reality of just how dangerous Project Shadow was had hit him square in the face as they went to arm up.

Killing Nikolay might make their world safer, or it could have consequences.

What if Ella was caught in a situation like last night with vampire hunters? She didn’t have the ability to protect herself. One bullet could wound her, but she’d heal. But if it struck her heart, she’d die.

If they captured her and exposed her to sunlight, she’d turn to ash.

Fuck.

When they reached the armory, Ella still hadn’t replied.

Goddamn it.

Regrets began to swallow Mack like a dark thundercloud. Last night might be the last time he ever saw her. If he got on that plane without seeing her...

A chill ran down his spine.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ELLA

“So, you want more of the blue background with the chocolate bars in the corner?” Ella asked her client on the other end of the video call.

“Yes. And keep the same flavors together. Rather than in a range. We want to focus on one at a time.” Melissa said, holding up the actual chocolate products and waving them at her.

Like that was any help.

She could have been clear about that in her brief, but oh no. Melissa was one of her easier clients, but all of them thought she could read their minds.

Nope.

She could manipulate their minds, not over video though, butnotread them.

Ella really wanted to get off the call. She’d woken after a solid sleep and felt every little ache in her body where Mack had fucked her.

Fucked her like it was the first andonlytime they’d be together.

Finding him gone when she woke, she knew that it was. In truth, she knew from the moment he kissed her, but let it happen anyway. As if she could’ve said no to the boy she’d fallen for when she was a little girl.