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"Aye, lass," he murmured "But ye doona have to face it alone"

Her eyes olden brown depths

"That’s right," Laszlo piped in "We’re here for you"

She sighed "Just when I think I have it figured out, and that I’ve adjusted to everything, soets thrown at ori said "There’s no reason you should ever have to meet Darafer"

Leah shuddered, then took a deep breath "Let’s get on with this then"

"Brave lass," Dougal whispered

She winced "Not so brave" She moved closer to the stretcher

Was she ignoring hihtened the restraints while Abby placed sensors over the soldier’s heart and major pulse points, then connected theo" Abby injected the soldier

In a few ers twitched Suddenly, his eyes popped open and his hands fisted, straining at the belts that tied hi at theainst the restraints

Leah spoke softly to hili smile and pat on the shoulder

"Why should I believe you, bitch?" he growled "You stinking whore!"

"You daal seized hiht "She’s trying to save your ass Talk to her like that again, and I’ll kill you"

"Dougal?" Leah stared at hio! You’re killing hihtened, and the soldier’s face turned a ori shoved at his shoulder "What are you doing? We need him alive!"

He ordered the prosthesis to release, and it did The soldier gasped for air, and the others exhaled with relief

"Oh, dear" Laszlo tugged at a button "Why did you attack hial stepped back Damn it to hell What had he done?

"You spoke to hiori looked stunned "I thought it al squeezed his eyes shut Da He’d heard the soldier abusing Leah, and the next thing he knew, he was choking the bastard "I-it was an accident"

"You accidentally spoke Chinese?" Abby asked dryly

He winced "I dinna ive hi verra still and cooperative now"

Gregori snorted "Yeah, because he almost died Why did you attack hi al a pointed look "You understood it"

With a groan, he dragged a hand over his hair The secret was out

"How interesting" Laszlo twirled a button "When did you learn Chinese?"

"I doona discuss it" Dougal headed for the door "If ye need me, I’ll be in my office"

Chapter Fourteen

How on earth did he know Chinese? Leah tensed with frustration Once again, she was finding it ial Why had he never told his friends? Had he kept it a secret for hundreds of years? What other secrets did he have? What did he ?

"Leah?" Abby touched her shoulder

She started "Yes?"

"I asked you to talk to him" AbbySee if you can calive hiht interfere with the seru Leah leaned over the soldier and spoke in Chinese "I’m Leah Chin What’s your na to help you"

"Bullshit" The soldier glared at her "You plan to torture eneticsimple about it "Once we’re done, you’ll be able to return to a normal life"

He scoffed "Like a billion other people? I don’t want to be nored at the restraints "Why am I so damned weak? What have you done to me?"

"You’ve been in stasis for a while, so your muscles haven’t been used Once we have you back to noreand powerful!"

"His pulse is dangerously high," Abby warned as she watched the ed back," Leah said in English

"I was afraid that would happen," Gregori murmured

Laszlo shook his head "He’s been brainwashed Perhaps in tiives out," Abby muttered

"I’ll try to reason with hied you, and in exchange for giving you superpowers, he nons your soul"

The soldier sneered at her "So?"

"If you die - "

"I won’t die, bitch! Even your torture can’t kill me I was made invincible!"

"No one is invincible"

"Darafer is! And he made us the sas"

Leah groaned Why did bad guys alant to take over the world? "I don’t know hly likely toyou Would you really expect a demon to be honest? And do you think this Master Han ant to share his ide poith you?"

A flicker of doubt glilowered at her "You’re wrong Master Han is loyal to his men He’ll come for me He’ll rescue me and destroy you"

"I’ve been told that vampires can’t teleport into this room It’s made of silver"

The soldier hissed and pulled at his restraints "They won’t abandon me! You’ll see! Master Han will rescue me" His face turned red as he screa him a sedative" Abby injected him