Dearest readers,

I thought I'd throw this in here as I believe it is something anyone who loves Andreas and who is enjoying this story would like. The lovely Eon Ice @Literacy101 and I have been working on a crossover book of sorts with Andreas and the main character, Sin, from her book Kingdom Come (which you absolutely have to check out. Badass female assassin anyone?). We've had (and are having) so much fun writing it. So, if you'd like to check it out, the book is called "Lightfire" and is available on Nenduli. A link for the book will be available in the external link, and I've dedicated this chapter to Eon so you can click it to find her. Here's a little except for those interested! 

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"Why by Zindar aren't you dead?" she coughed, her voice attempting to sound even, but he could hear the struggle in her tone.

Andreas cocked his head to the side, his eyes narrowed. Surely she hadn't just asked him how he was still alive. He absently regarded the daggers still embedded in his body. She couldn't be thinking that those meager daggers were enough to kill him. Could she truly be that dim?

"I have asked myself that question many times before, Sin, and I've never really come up with a good answer. However, in this case, I think it's quite obvious. Wouldn't you? One does not bleed to death from daggers placed in these positions," he gestured to the daggers, speaking as if to a child. "Or do you need a lesson on how to make someone bleed? I'd be happy to show you."

She snorted. "In case you hadn't noticed, I am not the one bleeding. Perhaps I should give you a lesson instead, boy."

Andreas raised a single eyebrow. "Your back? I imagine that's not bleeding at all. We'll just ignore the crimson that has dripped everywhere around you."

The girl smirked. "Did you do that? I thought it was the cause of all those froofroo weapons."

"I apologize. I wasn't aware you jumped into them with loving, open arms."

"You didn't notice that? Such a shame, you must not be very observant."

"What a shame indeed. I must be losing my touch." A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. She had wit, he'd give her that. Deciding the conversation over and ignoring whatever else she said in response, he returned his attention to the daggers and yanked them out as if they were mere thorns that were only a tiny bit bothersome. The heat of his magic spread quickly to the wounds, and in a matter of seconds it was as if they had never existed.

Part of her response managed to get his attention. "...any other man would be dead by now...."

His head cocked to her, his eyes narrowed slits as he processed her words. She was so sure, so confident that he was supposed to be dead. But what could possibly have lead her to believe that?

It took Andreas a moment longer than he would've liked to finally realize it. The kiss. She thought her kiss would kill him? A kiss?

He burst out laughing. The sound was loud and booming. He clutched at his stomach, but his body kept shaking with the laughter. It was so utterly ridiculous. He hadn't found anything quite this funny in... well forever. He laughed, nearly doubling over. He barely even noticed that no darkness clung to him in that moment. It was merely... joyous. Amusing.

When he managed to calm down, just slightly, he noted the irritation clear in her narrowed blue eyes. The small wry smile didn't make it past him either and his eyes danced with mirth.

"Do tell. I don't think I got the joke," she prompted when he finally stopped laughing.

"I didn't expect you too. Those of lesser intelligence usually have a more difficult time comprehending things. It's nothing to be ashamed of." He closed the distance between them and knelt down until he was eye level with her.

That smug look returned. "No? Well I'm sure that makes your mother very happy, not having to be ashamed of her baby boy."

All humor left Andreas in an instant. His grin dropped and the darkness manifested around him once more. He went deadly still, a calm taking over his body, a calm that was very far from what he was feeling.

He shoved the memories back where they belonged before they could the surface. He would not let this girl get under his skin. He would not.

Truth was, his mother had every reason to be ashamed of him. Every godsdamned reason.

"It would have."

He got up and turned his back to her. This conversation was over.

"Oh, mommy's a sore topic? Sorry." Her mocking words came from behind. He heard her get up but he didn't turn to her.

"Careful where you tread, Sin. I have only kept you alive for this long because you amuse me." His voice was devoid of any emotion.

"Where I tread?" He could hear the smirk in her voice, and she scoffed. "You don't have the slightest idea where I've been or what I've seen, Mommy's Boy."

"And you have no idea what I'm capable of." He turned to her, darkness filling every part of his being. "I'm what nightmares are made of."

She crossed her arms over her chest, titling an eyebrow upward. "Nightmares? What are you, four years old? Is that supposed to intimidate me?"

He continued to stare at her, not gracing her with a response.

She smirked, tossing her head. "I mean really, me?" She said after a few moments. "You don't have a clue who I am. For all you know I was going easy on you." She grinned even wider. "Didn't your mother teach you not to mess with strangers?"

That was it. He'd had it with her. Time for this game to end. He flung her back again with a wall of magic, unrelenting magic, not stopping until she collided with the nearest pillar. Slowly, meticulously, he stalked up to her, the predator ready to consume his prey. He didn't stop until he was barely a hair-breadth from her. She was completely immobilized.

His breath caressed her cheek as he leaned closer, pinning her with his body, his magic, and his stare. "I'm afraid she was never able to get around to it."

She tried to speak again, but he closed her mouth with his hand. "That's quite enough out of that pretty little mouth of yours. You have a death wish. I can't tell if you are just dimwitted or are so miserable in your existence that you wish for someone to end it so badly." He shook his head. "I'm more inclined to believe the latter, and the funny thing is, I get it. I really do. And that's why I won't kill you, even if it would be so easy. You have survived purely on luck until now. You even missed the Rezins."

A mixture of anger and confusion occupied those blue, blue eyes of hers. "You have no idea what those daggers are, do you?" His eyes glinted. "Let me put it this way: one little cut from those blades, and your soul will cease to exist."

She shot a glare over his shoulder at someone else, but Andreas didn't bother to find out who. "What I still can't believe is that you are still under the delusion that you are any match for me. You going easy on me? Not in this lifetime, or any other for that matter. You are so damn proud that you can't see when you are fighting a losing battle. You haven't witnessed even a glimpse of my power. You, your life, everything; it's all insignificant to me." He leaned his head closer so his mouth was right next to her ear. His breath on her neck sent what he knew was an involuntary shiver through her.

"I'm not the most feared man in my world for no reason. But I don't expect you to understand, you couldn't possibly. There may be bits of myself that I've glimpsed in you, and you might have seen some of yourself in me. But make no mistake, darling, you have never seen anything like me."

He searched her eyes, eyes that were burning hotter and hotter with each word he spoke. He let out a small laugh, one that wasn't quite a laugh but rather something small and bitter that blew into the air like a tired exhale. "You won't give up, will you? Even though everything you have tried has proved futile? Even your kiss of death?" Andreas shook his head once more.

He let go of her so suddenly that she stumbled forward, not having seen it coming. He faced her, his hands extended in an almost welcoming gesture. "Very well, love. Give me your best shot."