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Jessa wondered what country he had come from that he would believe one man could have so much power Or was his conviction just another part of the ruse? "Whether or not he could, by keeping this secret, in effect you are helping Genaro protect GenHance"

He studied her expression "What do you think the authorities in this country would do if they discovered the true nature of the Kyndred?"

He sounded like a conspiracy-theory nutcase That would explain why he’d brought her to an underground bunker "They’d detain … these people Test them to see just hoerful they are Then they’d lock thelanced down and let her voice tre Genaro is doing--harvest cells so they could make their own superhumans"

"We do not protect Genaro," Matthias told her "We protect ourselves"

She hadn’t expected hi me that you’re one of them One of these Kyndred"

He nodded

"But you’re not American" Real dread washed over her now "Are there others in Europe?"

"That I know of? Only ry, and Rowan does not like waiting"

"From what I’ve seen, Rowan doesn’t like much," she told him as she followed hiing me here?"

"Ask her"

Jessa recalled the open hostility on the girl’s face "I don’t think she wants to talk toand unsure of her place in the world You are not This hed "I’ I had in the world"

"No, you did not" He opened a door, froarlic, and herbs "You have us"

Jessa walked into a large, well-appointed kitchen fitted with the latest appliances and two long granite-topped counters Four leather-topped stools sat around a center island, where three place settings of Asian china had been placed A long basket lined with a checked cloth held tiny, steaarlic, and a colorful salad of field greens, sliced radishes, and shredded carrots filled a wide, shalloooden bowl

Rowan barely spared her a glance as she brought a stea red sauce to the table "It’s not getting any hotter," she told Matthias

Jessa took the seat nearest to the door while Matthias sat on her right and Rowan hovered at her left The young girl didn’t actually sit down once over the next forty minutes, but stood and held her plate as she ate, as if she were afraid someone would take it from her

Jessa waited until she saw both of them sample the food before she took a s sto the ested, but when she noticed just how ot about it The skinny young girl de bowls of the salad and half the basket of rolls before digging into the linguine Only after polishing off her fourth serving of the pasta did she sigh and bring her arm up as if to wipe her mouth on the sleeve

She stopped herself, reached for a napkin, and then caught Jessa’s fascinated gaze "What’s your problem?"

She offered a tentative smile "You have quite an appetite" Before Rowan could snap her head off, she added, "This sauce is extraordinary--it’s so fresh You must have rabbed up the empty dishes and stalked over to the sink to rinse the the table, Matthias caught her eye and shook his head "Rowan," he said aloud "The irl kept her back to them and scrubbed

Jessa picked up the dishes and, before Matthias could stop her, brought them over to the sink "If you’re not a chef, you should be I happen to love Italian food, and your sauce is one of the best I’ve ever tasted Thank you forit"

Rowan took the dishes from her, hesitated, and then muttered, "You’re welcome" She turned to Matthias "You want coffee in the library?"

"Please"

Jessa reluctantly followed him out of the kitchen "I should stay and help her clean up"

"Roould not allow it When she cooks, she is …" He paused as if unsure of the right words to use "Master and servant"