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"First of all, the Kyn never knew you existed Elizabeth killed your parents and forced you to go through the change alone BelieveNick exactly how Richard had punished his sadistic wife, but decided the girl had enough htmares "You really love Gabriel, don’t you?"

"Duh" Nick invested the one ith a thousand unspoken ones

Alex faced her "Then you have to find a way to deal, Nick, just like I did Because you love him, because you’re bonded to him, and he’s Kyn And no irl stared off at the horizon for a time "I’ll have to put upstuff, won’t I? I hate that silly shit"

"Or you could wear jeans and a T-shirt and shave your head" Alex said "You’ll be the suzerain’s lady; no one would dare give you grief about it And personally, I avoid the for stuff whenever possible Unless it’s another lord I like, htful "Gabriel will need a seneschal if he turns sig-lord" She smiled a little "I wasn’t hts I’d kill for Reese’s"

Alex grinned "Pieces, or peanut butter cup?"

"Pieces" Nick snorted "Why ruin perfectly good peanut butter with crappy milk chocolate?"

"Ah, but they have them in dark and white chocolate now" Alex took a deep breath "Okay, ot a situation"

Nick listened as Alex told her about the reaction of the Kyn pathogen to heat, thebodies of the arson attack victims, and the effects of the new a with the ones they take?" Nick asked

"We don’t know, but you saw firsthand what they did to Gabriel" Alex watched her expression "Nick, I know it’s a lot to ask of you, but no one else has your talent We need you to find thedar" She studied Alex "He made you coo fuck himself with his scepter" She chuckled and shook her head "Twisted son of a bitch"

"As ht Gabriel’s told us how you work together He doesn’t even have to track them anymore You always knohere they are"

"I’ll do it," Nick said abruptly "On one condition I want that big blond guy froo with us"

"Korvel?" Alex frowned "Why do you want him?"

"Gabriel told me about him He said Richard made hi tells him, no matter how nasty it is," she said "I want him armed to the teeth and under orders If it looks like the Brethren are going to grab us, I want Korvel to kill us"

"Nick--"

"No" She looked into Alex’s eyes "You’re not there when Gabriel wakes up shaking and has blood on hisnot to scream You don’t see how he flinches every tiuy dressed in black coainst your skin while you’re ot theodda, and then fell silent

"I’ain," Nick said softly "And you really don’t want theet hold of both of us Because they’ll use him to make me work as one of their hunters"

Alex felt sick, but slowly nodded "Okay I’ll tell Richard" Souards approaching theuard bowed "Lady Nicola, your lord asks if you will join hie"

"I proe out a carburetor on the Triu to her uard bowed and left the" Nick turned to Alex "Tell Richard we’re even now He tries anything like this again, and I’ll tell the fucking Brethren myself where they can find him"

Chapter Sixteen

Robin shouted over and over for Salva as the heavy doors to the floor above slahter He looked over at Chris and Nottinghaether, and went into an abrupt, furious rage Howling like an ani his shoulder into thean to spread down his sleeve and chest

Gripping her bleeding arm, Chris limped over to the side of her cell closest to his