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He could see her eyes furrow in sympathy "I’m so sorry That’s horrible"

"Lorenzo did it"

Her eyes flared and he saw s at her collar He rushed over and put his hands on her shoulders, rubbing theid Calm"

She took a deep breath and the smell of smoke dissipated "Did they kill him?"

"No He escaped with the book Stephen--B’s father--had stolen from him It was related to blood alche for, I think"

He could see a trace of tears in the corner of her eye before she blinked theo, then Go and help them find Lorenzo and this book It’s what Ioan would’ve wanted"

Carwyn couldn’t seee of his thuainst the soft skin of her neck and he could hear the low thump of her heart as her blood churned He felt as if he would be ripping hiid"

She whispered, "I know"

He stepped even closer and leaned down Her forehead was a whisper away from his lips "I said… you could hold on to me"

A crooked smile lifted the corner of her irl, Carwyn"

A reluctant smile came to his lips "No, you’re not You’re tiny"

"Careful, I’ll shock ya" She lifted her hands and placed theave a rueful laugh "You always do"

Carwyn couldn’t look away Neither, it seeid Her voice was a whisper when she finally spoke "I know it’s not on the way, but can you look in on things in Dublin before you leave? Check on the investigation I’ve talked to Murphy on the phone, but he’ll tell you things he won’t tell o by his office"

"There’s still a local connection we haven’t found I know--I know they don’t believe me They think it ended when Lorenzo left Dublin, and I don’t want them to lose the trace of any leads while I’id"

She took a deep breath and he could smell the smoky-sweet scent of her "Yes?"

I’ll miss you More than I should Do you feel this? Is it the sa brute of athe skin at her collar "I’ll look into things in Dublin Don’t worry"

She took a breath and held it "You should go You can ht if you leave now"

"I know" And yet, he couldn’t see It was like tightly coiled steel held up her lie to wrap his ar skin on her forehead He closed his eyes and held his lips there, feeling the burn and the sharp bite of her fingernails as they dug into his hands