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Paul felt Andra tense more than he saw it "All you have to do is use the phone or have one of the nurses call I’ll always come"

"There were no phones where I was, Andra I swear it I’ it up"

Andra smoothed Nika’s white hair away from her face and wiped the tears froht" She helped Nika lie back down and cli the frail wo," said Andra without accusation

Nika sed "I try, but I can’t All she gets to eat is black blood It burns like acid How can I eat food when all she gets is blood?"

Paul had no idea who "she" was, but apparently Andra did "No one is feeding her blood, Nika It’s just a trick of your mind You have to eat"

Nika shook her head "I try, but all I taste is the blood and ita soothing hand over the woman’s hair "Do you want them to find another way to feed you? Maybe put a tube into your stomach so you won’t feel sick?"

"No!" Nika tried to lurch up, but Andra’s stronger body easily held her down "No, no, no No tubes!"

"Okay," said Andra in a placating tone "No tubes But you have to eat Will you at least try?"

"But the blood--"

"Is not real It’s a trick" Andra looked over at the nurse as if deciding whether or not to trust her

The astute nurse saw the look and said, "I’ll go get a tray" Then she left, eyeing Paul curiously as she passed hione, Andra said, "We’ve talked about this before The s are real No one is going to feed blood to anyone here You’re safe"

Nika grabbed Andra’s hand and squeezed hard with skeletal fingers "I’s inside her Changing her She’s so afraid, Andra"

Andra’s chin trehtness of her eyes gave away her grief "Tori is not afraid anymore She’s dead, Nika Up in heaven with Mo so to her to make herdifferent We have to find her soon or it will be too late"

Paul saw anguish tighten Andra’s body, though her expression remained calm No doubt for Nika’s sake "Please, honey, try not to worry about Tori Nothing can ever hurt her again"

The nurse returned with a tray of food and placed it on the table beside the bed "I’ll co else?"

"No, we’ll be fine, Melanie Thanks"

The nurse left and Andra pulled the metal cover off the tray of food "Looks like some chicken soup and runny mashed potatoes Which sounds better?"

"Not the potatoes Too thick Too ht out of yourlately" Andra tested the te the spoon to Nika’s mouth

Nika closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened her ue, and ian to shake Her body quivered and tears strea to s the soup, but it wasn’t working The poor girl’s ed, and she couldn’t separate real food frorabbed the napkin and spit out the soup "I’m sorry, Andra I’m sorry"

Andra pushed the table away and wrapped her arain in a few minutes"

Andra turned her attention to Paul He expected her to look at hi on the "Can you help her like you did Sammy?" she asked hihten Nika "How long has she been this way?"

"Eight years"

Paul had no idea how she’d survived so long Most people didn’t last a year after being touched by the Synestryn "It’s been too long I don’t think I can help, but I et her to eat But it won’t be easy"

"What do I do?"

Paul looked at Nika, atching hihtened eyes "Can I come closer?" he asked her

Nika looked to Andra, who said, "He’s a friend"

Nika nodded and Paul moved slowly to Andra’s side "Giveout his left hand, which pulsed with the iridescent ring of the Theronai

Andra obeyed and he felt her tense right before that wave of pleasure rolled through them both at the contact He saw her eyes dilate and her nipples bead up under the thin fabric of her shirt He had to fight to keep fro her down on the bed, where he could stretch her out and spend his ti her

Then he remembered Nika was on that bed and she needed them both to focus Paul shoved down all those inappropriately lustful feelings and cleared his throat

"What do I do?" asked Andra

"Just hang on to me Put your hand on Nika’s head Concentrate on the skin that links us Open yourself up and don’t fight what happens I’ll do the rest"