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Her blue eyes, eyes so like his, lit with triumph as she lifted the glass to her lips and drank. “You made a wise choice. I’m proud of you for being so reasonable.”
The Warden released August, dropping him to the floor where he coughed and wheezed for breath.
Pushing her chair back, Annabeth rose to her feet and smoothed the wrinkles from her slacks. Then she looked to the trio near the entryway and pointed to August. “Kill him.”
“You swore!” Micah roared.
She just smiled at him. “I lied. Besides, you wouldn’t have actually left him. It’s better this way.”
The second Warden bent, gripping Micah’s mate by the elbow and jerking him to his feet. His other hand went for August’s throat again, but he stopped suddenly and stumbled backward with a look of horror in his eyes.
Both Wardens began mumbling a litany of apologies, but Micah barely heard them. Moving quickly, he darted around the table, catching Annabeth when she began to sway on her feet.
“You’re not going to hurt anyone, not ever again.”
Her lips moved, but she didn’t speak as her eyelids fluttered closed. With more gentleness than she deserved, Micah eased her back into her chair and stroked the hair away from her face.
“I’m taking back what you stole from me, and I will have my happy ending. Sleep well,my Queen.”
“Are you okay?” Pushing past the two Wardens, August hurried across the room and threw himself into Micah’s arms. “She gave you no choice.”
“I didn’t want it to end like this.” He’d always believed in second chances, but he could do anything to help someone who didn’t want to change. “Forget about me, though.” Sliding his knuckles under August’s chin, Micah tilted his head back to examine the forming bruises on his neck. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll be sore, but no permanent damage.”
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I should have protected you. I should have expected she’d try something like this.”
“Hush.” Reaching up, August placed two fingers against Micah’s lips and smiled. “We won, and I love you. That’s all you need to worry about right now.”
“Yes, we did. We won.”
“What was in that damn wine, anyway?”
“Not the wine.” Hold up his healed finger, Micah shook his head. “My blood, but you’ll have to ask Miss Lula the specifics. Apparently, she has a witch in her pocket who knows a nasty eternal sleeping spell.”
August groaned. “Witches are not good company to keep. I just had this talk with Meredith.”
“Meredith has a witch, too?”
“Apparently, they’re all the rage.” Sighing, August jerked his thumb at Annabeth. “What do we do with her?”
Micah nodded at the Wardens. “Well, these guys are going to move her back to her house where one of her servants will find her sleeping in her bed and be unable to wake her.” Taking August’s hand, he brought it to his lips and brushed a kiss over the knuckles. “It’s over now.”
“Maybe not.” August pulled his bottom lip between his teeth and wrinkled his nose. “I heard Annabeth say she didn’t send Callum to watch me. Do you believe her?”
Thinking back to his grandmother’s reaction, Micah bobbed his head. “Yes, I think she was telling the truth.”
“Well, damn.”
“Don’t sorry. I’ll take care of it.”
“We should call the police.”
“Nah.” Swinging August up into his arms, Micah kissed his lips and laughed. “What I have planned will be much more fun.”
“Yes,” August sighed, “that’s what I’m afraid of.”
Epilogue
