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Inaflash,Xianniang’stalonswereoutandwrappedaroundhisneck.“Icouldtearyoutopiecesbeforeyoublink,”shehissed.

B??riKhanfethetalonsathisthroatandsawtheangerinthewitch’seyes.Butheremainedcalm.Whenhespoke,hisvoicewaseven—andicecold.“Rememberwhatyouwant.Aplacewhereyourpowerswillnotbevilified.Aplacewhereyouareeptedforwhoyouare.”Hewatchedthewitch’sexpressiongrowangrierasthewordsshehadsaidtohiminconfidenceechoedbackather.“Youwon’tgetwhatyouwantwithoutme.Anddoyouwanttoknowwhy?”Hepaused,thoughheknewshewouldn’tanswer.“Noarmywillfollowawoman.”Helethiswordshangintheair.“Trustmeornot,I’myouronlyoption.”

B??riKhanwatchedastheangerdimmedinhereyes.Xianniangknewhewasright.

“Rememberyoualsoneedme,B??riKhan,”sherepliedafterashortpause,hergripstilightonhisneck.

“Idon’tdenyit,”B??riKhansaid.

Theyheldeachother’sgazeforamomentlonger.XianniangwithdrewhertalonsfromB??riKhan’sthroat.

“Wewillfinishwhatwestarted,”shesaid.

Thistime,B??riKhangaveanod.“Yes,”heagreed.“Andyouwillseetoitthatnothing—andnoone—standsinourway.”