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"You all start working on that I’ll go talk to Jeremiah, and see what’s to be done there Tokala, Bidzil, once I get him back in his cell, take Leonidas out to the point so the lanced back at Elisa, though he hardly needed the visual He hadn’t let go of herit practically in the cupped palm of his soul even in its unconscious state "Say a prayer over him He wasn’t always this, and she’d want that honored"

Tokala nodded, understanding Kohana spoke then, tersely "Will she be all right?"

Mal grunted "Not after I wring her neck"

It was the right thing to say, obviously, because expressions eased further As the others began to disperse to do his bidding, he touched Chu with Elisa and Miah while I deal with Jeremiah?"

Chumani put her hand over his, squeezed "Couldn’t keepto take soht like this oing to Jeremiah, he returned to Nerida He stopped three feet away froain "She’s going to be okay, but she’s going to hurt for a while We’re going to ive her blood, tend to her She’ll need you with her Are you willing to help?"

Her thin fingers laced and unlaced She wasn’t brave enough to speak again, but she nodded, a quick jerk

"Very well, then Go and get the blankets from Kohana You can help hiet blood on it"

Nerida got to her feet, slunk over to the Jeep Mal watched as the child held out sticklike arave Nerida a bundle of blankets, which the girlthe bundle up so the corners wouldn’t drag the ground, though the blankets bounced against her knees Thinking of how devoted the two girls were, how often they exchanged touch, he thought he’d let Nerida sleep in Miah’s cell tonight Along the sahts about Willia what had happened here, he knew Nerida would be safe with the bigger girl, even in bloodlust And tonight particularly, he wasn’t going to make anyone be alone

Chumani sent him a wan s his shoulders, pushing away the pointless yet ale to take Chumani’s place, Mal turned his attention to the next matter

He strode across the enclosure, toward Jere glasslike down on Jere the two Jerehs, bracing himself on one with a bloodstained hand He lifted his head when Mal appeared in the corner of his vision, though Mal was sure he’d heard his approach Or maybe not The boy’s expression looked distant, histo be fine," Mal said "They both are, thanks to you Thanks to you all"

Jeree, but Mal didn’t think that was because the boy didn’t hear hi in his oing to be all right How that was possible, he didn’t know, but he wouldn’t address that now, and not just because the fledgling was in no shape to answer pointed questions Mal didn’t trust hi in his ownwas all aniers of va their ani to take soh, in vae of his own bloodlust in an environ vampire had removed the one justified outlet to deal with that, while inadvertently e

"Youkill us?" The question was asked in a dullor interest to the boy

"Not today," Mal said Reaching out, he closed his hand over the boy’s wrist, attached to the hand that was o, boy It’s all right He’s gone"

Jereers, staining his oith the clotting and cooling blood "Go back to your cell; shut the gate The staff are going to coet Elisa back to the house and tend her there I’ll leave Chuht In case you need anything"