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She didn’t look at hi behind her

"Salva, for God’s sake," Robin shouted after her

Only the light, lilting sound of the contessa’s laughter drifted back down to the at Geoffrey’s estate, Nicola Jefferson had spent half of her waking hours on the ward, at firsther own rounds to check on the new arrivals Once Alex had ascertained that the girl wasn’t squea assistant and put her to work

Afterwith Richard, Alex went down to the ward to talk to the Nick about tracking the s and listening to the Kyn female talk about Gabriel, whoer than Nick

Alex helped her finish changing the dressings, and worked on the next several patients with her, chatting casually about the procedures she used on theer wo attention to her, and looked as if she wanted to punch out a guard

"Let’s take a break and get some fresh air" Alex pulled off her lab coat and headed for the lift She glanced over her shoulder when Nick didn’t follow "Come on, kid We both need it"

Nick scowled "I’ood, because I don’t want an i

Nick reluctantly followed her onto the lift and out of the mansion Alex walked down the cobblestone path to the apricot orchard, where the delicious fragrance of ripening fruit perfu for apricots," Nick observed

"Michael’s the sa Gabriel’s talked about planting soave her a startled look "They like to sed at the corner of Nick’s mouth "Glad I didn’t end up with a scent like horseof the extra crispy, if the patients are starting to get to you, you should take a couple nights off froirl turned away "I’ht it to her nose "God, I miss food, don’t you? I reat sex, but so of M&M’s so bad I could screa to lecture me about my bad attitude, Doc, let’s pretend that you did and I’ll head back to the ward"

"I didn’t want it, either, Nick" Alex rolled the golden fruit between her palms "And, for the record, ive you some pointers, if you want"

Nick’s mouth twisted "Giveis," Alex said, "I’ll never kiss your ass or ’my lady’ you to death I’m like you I never had a choice"

Nick fell silent for a few minutes, and then finally said, "I’etting onoods"

"He’s a nosy bastard" Alex squelched a surge of guilt "Anything else on your rass "Richard wants to e of a nest"

"Really" Alex wasn’t surprised; Gabriel had been one of Richard’s most trusted lieutenants before he’d been abducted and tortured by the Brethren "Did Gabe talk to you about it?"

"No The Vaht I was sleeping He offered him territory in the north, near my farm Gabriel said no, but the way he sounded…" She hunched her shoulders "I think he really wants things the way they were You know, living in the big house, having the servants, wall-to-wall art and swords and warriors and shit"

"But you don’t"

Nick stuffed her hands in her pockets "Doesn’tto be satisfied with a life on the road; I’ve seen that The guy needs roots Kyn roots If o"

"You can’t do it, Nick"

"Watch littered

"When ere in Ireland, and Gabriel thought you’d died in his arms," Alex said, "he asked Michael to kill him When Michael refused, he asked for a knife so he could do it hilared at Alex "You don’t get it, do you? I’-chicks I can’t do this shit The Kyn took everything away from me My parents My home My whole life Every time I look at one of you, I remember So I can’t pretend none of that happened just because I got stuck with fangs Not even for Gabriel"