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"I hate you, too"

A tender, poignant mo in his chest, Baden washed his hands and checked on the other patients Most were already patched up and on the mend

Strike now No resistance ain and I’ll find a way to end you

The beast sputtered, surprised andhurt?

A guy could only take so much Baden had been pushed past his limit He--everyone--had been unprepared for the battle today, and it was his fault He’d known Lucifer would send soht he could handle it Bastard will have to get through me Well, the bastard had Quite easily

Lucifer would send another assassin, and soon

As Hades’s trusted enforcer, Baden was a greater hazard to Lucifer than his friends He would leave, hopefully re them time to heal from their injuries

He would take Katarina with hi the men, women and children Baden adored

His friends would protest his decision Loudly Look how Torin and Paris had reacted at the ht of his departure

At the very least, the warriors would insist soo with him Only Cameo and Galen were mate-free, which ly accept, but he didn’t want to put Caed He would put the warrior at unnecessary risk, no problem There ays to ensure the deceitful prick ree area and found Galen leaning against the far wall, studying the occupants with a bored expression

As the keeper of Jealousy and False Hope, Galen tended to cause trouble everywhere he went Had he known the assassin was on the way and that’s why he’d left the fortress hours earlier?

Betrayer!

Destruction drove Baden straight to thehis around Baden’s neck The position bent his arrip to loosen, and though Galen’s wings had been cut off h to anchor him--he hovered in the air while Baden stumbled back

Galen maneuvered his feet to Baden’s shoulders and pushed, increasing the distance between therip or even his balance He released Galen, who dropped to the floor in a crouch

Blue eyes peered through hanks of pale hair, his grin only groider "Want to talk about your proble the attack?" Baden demanded

A flicker of unease, quickly hidden "Out"