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"Irina are the best healers," Leo said, gritting his teeth as Rhys placed glowing coals on the mottled skin at his side "My father said my m…mother could heal any wound She studied ht so My father said he laughed and laughed, but really, he liked her wearing pants"

Malachi sood story, Leo When did your father find you?"

"When Max and I were seven, he just showed up" He closed his eyes as a growl of pain ru breath, he said, "He didn’t knoe’d survived the Rending He’d been in Russia killing Grigori He was… a bit ot better eventually"

"Ava, put your pal it over Leo’s rapid pulse "Hold it there"

"What else can I do?" she asked, tears threatening She felt helpless in the face of the young scribe’s pain

Rhys shook his head, singed hair falling in his eyes "I don’t knoorks Think about ic"

"There’s a song," Leo said, his voice sounding dazed "My father sang it ere young A song tounder his breath as his eyes drifted closed

"She can’t sing it yet," Malachi murmured "Not yet, Leo Soon she’ll know the words It’s too dangerous for her now"

Too dangerous because she couldn’t control herof resentment Maybe if the Irina hadn’t run away, she would know If they hadn’t run away, Leo wouldn’t be suffering asshe was a freak for hearing voices A bitter seed took root in her heart as she thought about all the Irin had lost

"Ava," Malachi whispered, pulling her hand away "He’s sleeping now Enough You need to save your strength, too"

She was feeling it For the first tiht in Cappadocia with Malachi, the voices around her were coy than she realized, helping Leo to heal

"Take her upstairs to rest," Rhys said "I’ll stay with Leo and keep the fire burning"

"Have we heard from Damien and Max yet?"

"Not yet I’ll keep Ava’s phone, if that’s all right Hers is the only one working"

She nodded and let Malachi lead her up the stairs to a tiny bedrooan to peel off her clothes as she sank into the mattress She felt Malachi lay behind her as she curled on her side