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the way the bloodstains were littered across the carpet did give her an impression. "She fought back, and I would think she got away too, because of the dead guard at the door. Kahli wouldn't have killed him on the way into the room."

"And what of William? Did you see him last night? Do you think he aided her?"

Cassie shook her head, her blonde curls swaying as she did it. "No. Will doesn't fight like this. If this was his mess, no one would have found it." The Queen's dark brow lifted. "It would have been cleaned up before sunrise."

"So he did something else, and then fled along with Kahli?"

"I didn't say that," Cassie blanched. "You think Will attacked the King and kidnapped Kahli? That doesn't sound like him at all. He's served you forever. He defends you when people speak poorly of you. He risked his life the night your brother gifted Kahli to you. She stabbed him and he didn't even fight back. Will could have punched Kahli in the face and knocked her out. He didn't. Other Handlers would have. He knew what she was and how much she meant to you. Will's no traitor."

The Queen stared at Cassie, as she spoke. Her lips formed a thin line, as she listened to this little twit defend her most faithful servant. When the girl finished, Cassie realized that she spoke too freely, too plainly. Cassie lowered her gaze and bowed, saying, "Forgive me. I meant no disrespect, my Queen. You asked for my gut impression and that was it. Whatever happened here, Will was not involved."

Sophia stopped in front of the girl and bent at the waist. Taking Cassie's chin in her hand, Sophia tilted Cassie's face up. When the frightened girl met her gaze, Sophia asked, "Then, where is he?"

Chapter 12

Kahli swallowed hard. Looking up at Will, she said firmly, fighting to control her voice, "I don't know what you mean."

Will stepped back. His dark gaze left hers, as he glanced at the floor, and then at his hands. This was insane. Even saying it sounded too surreal, but it was necessary before they returned to the palace. He breathed deeply and looked up at her. Their connection was weak. It needed to be stronger. They needed to douse the King's pull on her. No matter what he did, Will would lose her if the King got to Kahli and Will wasn't there to protect her. This request was like putting a piece of glass in the way. It was an invisible barrier that would shatter when pressed hard enough, but it would slow the King down, and that was all Will could hope for.

Will pressed his lips together, deciding that the best thing to do was to say it directly. He glanced up at Kahli, his heart hammering in his chest. "There's a rule forbidding vampires from drinking directly from humans. No single vampire can be pair-bonded to a single human. The Queen forbids it. It weakens the humans too quickly and there aren't many left who can endure a direct bite and live."

Kahli's chest rose and fell as he spoke. The room felt warmer than it was. What was he saying? She didn't want to leap to the conclusion. Shaking her head, she stiffened, folding her arms over her chest and squeezing tight. "Why are you telling me this? What rule do you want to break, Will? You've already had my blood and I had yours. We're bonded, which I'm pretty sure means you're dead if we don't kill the Queen."

Will smiled forlornly, but he didn't step toward her. "The King drank directly from you, but you haven't been bonded to him. Yet. He will force it on you, as soon as you're within reach. If that happens, Kahli - there's nothing I can do to save you. You'll be his."

She blanched as Will spoke. He tried to maintain eye contact, but she looked away. Kahli's fingers were clutching her arms so hard that her knuckles paled and turned as white as her bodysuit. Finally, she asked, "And if we break a rule, it can prevent that?" Will nodded. "What rule?"

"The same one the King broke."

Kahli's jaw twitched. "What are you saying?"

Will watched her from across the room. He didn't want to force her, but he felt like she was going to run. Or fight. He didn't want to fight her anymore. "We need to work together or we'll die. You do understand that,