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Mercedes let her gaze fall over his battered and bruised body. It pains me inside to see
you this way.
The wounds don t hurt, he said glumly. They might look it, but I don t feel them.
Well, I do. From deep inside her belly, an odd sensation rushed through her. Like her
body was charged with electricity and demanded release. In her mind, she knew without a doubt
that she had the power to heal him.
Following her instincts, she reached up and smoothed her hands along his arms. A bright
white light followed the sweep of her hands and illuminated Nox s injuries, and then the wounds
began to heal.
She repeated the motion over his swollen knee and back up the rest of his body. Better?
Nox stared on in awe. How did you do that?
The light disappeared and she relaxed her arms. It left her dizzy but she didn t care. I
don t know. I ve never done it before. I just did what felt right.
His gaze locked with hers. She sensed his sadness.
Be honest with me. Do I frighten you?
She should be afraid, terrified even. Under any other circumstance she d run from a man
who could become a creature. But this was Nox and she knew him. Even in his current state, to
look at him made her body liquefy all over again. No. It makes me want you more.
His lips curled. You saw me as a disgusting thing. How were you not sickened by me?
Because I know the real you.
Impossible, he retorted. I don t even know the real me. You need a man who can stay
a man and give you everything you deserve.
Stop it, she snapped. His pity trip was getting on her last nerve. You re only saying
this stuff because of a bruised ego. I want you. Do you hear me? I. Want. You. Hell, I m pretty
damn certain that I love you. So knock off the you re not good enough for me bullshit, because
you re not getting rid of me.
I love you too. He smiled for a second and then lowered his gaze to the ground. I want
to be with you. Hell I don t want to go a day without looking into your beautiful eyes. But you
need a real man. One who doesn t change into a circus freak. I can t imagine the kind of life
you d endure with me. I don t know there s a cure. I may get worse. The future isn t up to me.
Mercedes stepped forward and rested her hands on either side of his face.
You better look at me when you say that, she soothed. I m not afraid of what you
become. I know around you my memory is sharp and my body radiates with an uncontrollable
desire. Yes, we might end up hurting one another for one reason or another. Instead of throwing
it all away, why don t we see where it leads us? Neither of us will ever know unless we try.
We re good together.
You ve no idea how much I want all that to be true.
It is.
She could tell he wanted to argue the point until she gave up on him, but he d be waiting
a long time. In her mind, she saw herself freeing him from the chains that stood in the way of
their future. It worked before when she healed him.
Mind made up, she jutted out her chin. I m going to get you out of here, and I don t
want to hear another word out of you.
Nox pursed his lips but didn t say anything. A smart move, she thought, considering she
planned to shoot down any of his attempts to sway her.
Mercedes wrapped her hands around the upper chains that bound his wrists and pulled.
These are strong chains, Nox interrupted. They re made to bind the strongest of
beasts, not an average human.
Shut up, you re ruining my concentration, she spat.
You ll hurt yourself if you aren t careful.
She tuned him out and focused on the chains. Eyes closed she visualized the power in the
chains weakening. Envisioned them turning to liquid. From her center, the surge of electricity
grew. With a bit more force, she looked through the chains and saw their demise. Heat traveled
swiftly through her upper body and white light sparked from her fingertips.
The chains broke apart and turned to ash. Mercedes bent down and repeated the same
visualization on the chains around his ankles. When those too broke away, her body went slack
and she sank to the ground.
Nox knelt at her side and kissed the top of her head.
See, you ve gone and sapped your strength.
She looked up and glared. Would it kill you to thank me?
He let out a quiet chuckle. Thank you.
Nox slid his arms beneath her legs and around her back. We need to get you out of here.
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