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He gave her a little formal bow of his head "Of course, my lady"

Chapter 10

Madoc wished he was anywhere else but standing beside Nika’s bed He had no business being here, but Andra had claimed Nika had asked for him

She’d asked and he’d practically broken the land-speed record getting back to her side

So ood intentions to keep his distance Madoc stood there, stiff and uneasy, unsure what to do now that he was here He should never have come

Nika barely made a lump in the bed Her white hair had been washed and brushed until it shone, and it was fanned out around her head She was thin, fragile, alot too close, he was sure he’d accidentally hurt her

Andra looked at him expectantly, like he had all the answers

"What the fuck do you want me to do?" he asked

"I don’t know Just sit with her and hold her hand, I guess"

"I’round her back teeth in frustration "Fine Then just sit your ass down until she wakes up again"

Oh, no He wasn’t going to be locked into babysitting duty He had sgath to kill He was up to seventy-two kills so far this week If he had anything to say about it, he’d exterminate the fuckers from the face of the planet before year’s end

Maybe then Nika would be okay

"I can only stay a few minutes," said Madoc

Andra’s jaw clenched and her htened like she didn’t want to spit out the words "Your safety was the first thing on herunconscious for "

No, he couldn’t Caring was for id black ring he wore kept the last leaf on his life in stasis over his ribs, frozen ood as dead He didn’t care about anything anyood for either of those

Still, he’d made an oath as one of the Band of the Barren--the secret, invitation-only group of Theronai that kept those with bare trees like hi discovered and sent to their deaths He’d prouys so none of them would be discovered If one of the Band was outed, he knew every Theronai alive would be searched for signs of treachery The fake leaves tattooed on his life too closely For now he had to play the part as he’d promised Iain he would He had to act like he would have before his soul had died

It was either that, or let the with all of the other brothers in the Band

Not a fucking chance

Madoc let out a long sigh, and eased hie of the bed Nika’s body shifted toward the depression in the mattress

He tensed, worried she’d bu But she didn’t She didn’t even touch him, which was for the best At least that hat he tried to tell himself

Andra looked at her watch "Joseph said that three more Theronai reported back here to come see Nika They should be here soon"

"Fine Let one of the body flopped into a chair and she covered her face with her hands She looked tired, and Madoc had a split second of worry for her Odd

"I hope to God one of theht save her, restore her sanity"

Madoc’s stoainst a punch of jealousy He didn’t want any other Theronai near her, as stupid as that was He wanted to be the one to save her, which was utterly ridiculous He’d been near her for long enough to knoasn’t going to happen

In fact, based on the speed at which his ring was losing its color--its life--he was out of time for h the door right now, it one, he wouldn’t be able to bond with anyone, compatible or not He’d be broken, a wasted shell of what he was born to be

"What? No empty words of hope?" asked Andra Her eyes were shut, like she was too tired to bother keeping them open

"Hope is for people who haven’t pulled their heads out of their asses far enough to see reality," said Madoc

"Ah An optimist Lovely" She let out a wide yawn

Madoc snorted "Go take a nap I’ll stay until the others get here"

A knock sounded on the main door of Paul and Andra’s suite "Looks like you’re off the hook," said Andra "They’re here"

She left the rooer than he’d expected Maybe she was interviewing the

Eventually, she came back with a trail of three Theronai behind her Each one had a siven Nika his oath to protect her

She looked a little green, and more than a little uneasy as she stepped aside and let the men see Nika

Madoc knew all of the by their sides on and off for several centuries That didn’tto stay put until they left

Or until one of their rings started reacting to her

Just the idea was almost more than he could stomach He clenched his fists and stood from the bed He didn’t want an up-close view of the show to come

Nika let out a small whimper, so loasn’t sure Andra had heard it If so, she made no reaction

Madoc frowned and held hi to check on her He could see the even rise and fall of her breathing froh

"Gentlemen," said Andra "This is my sister, Nika"