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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

MIKO

I f I thought too hard about my replicas, I’d give myself a migraine.

I lived in a world of magic, with Faery magic being on another level. That’s all the pill I needed to swallow.

Orion held my hand tightly, his soft skin making my heart work harder. His presence got the blood flowing like rapids, my soul responding with pure giddiness.

But right now, he was more of an anchor than a distraction. Never. His sexiness wrapped in cherry ribbons was my support system carrying the promise of future snuggles.

I lifted his hand to my lips, planting a kiss on his knuckles.

He responded by kissing mine.

“What are you thinking?” I asked softly, not caring about the other ears around us.

“Trying not to,” he answered. “It lets the fear in.”

God, what a cutie.

“Stay close to me,” I said.

“Ditto, Mr. Robot.”

“Am I still a robot?” I kissed his hand again.

“A yummy one, yes.”

I ruffled his hair gently, then twisted myself to kiss his forehead.

“Sorry about my smell,” he said.

“You’re a dozen roses compared to this damn place.”

“Maybe the manure making them grow.”

“Never, Ori. Never.”

We shared a kiss on the lips. Brief, a peck, but enough to load several springs in my step.

Thump, thump.

Thump, thump.

“Floor twenty,” the facility’s voice said.

I squeezed my mate’s hand. “Stay by my side.”

He squeezed it back as the doors opened.

He gasped, freezing in place.

“Ori?”

The stench of blood magic hit me.

“Orion!”