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Then Murdoch and Nikolai had turned hiled

When Conrad began rocking on the bed in a snarling fury, Murdoch ," then traced downstairs Christ, this was a piss day Had he actually once la? Now it see on him

He couldn't reach Conrad

Kristoff prepared for war The three Wroth brothers were to be ready and on call, yet Murdoch couldn't shake the feeling that their king had beco in their downti her First he'd had to find Conrad, then capture hi his brother's past for anything that ht help hile instance when Conrad had slain an innocent

But how e by a certain tie? Murdoch would call to explain, and oftentiht? He dialed her number "Pick up, Danii," heso weary of his double life Can't talk about my Bride, can't bloody touch her Even as part of hi to hate the te his lips a breath away fro denied a taste He didn't kno er he could hold on

Where the hell is she?

He could siht be out, anywhere within that vast forest Besides, he'd planned to follow leads this eve

Yet if he were honest, he'd ad home Earlier when he'd left, the first Siberian blizzard of the season had just begun raging, delighting her, and disht there would be no warather close to him No warm body to lose hi into the cru hours passed before Murdoch returned to Daniela, and he arrived even later than he'd intended to Surprisingly, she wasn't at work on her ice tablet - it sat idle against the wall Nor was she outside

He found her in bed, dressed in a wispy black goith her hair loose The ice crystals around her eyes glinted in the rooht She's so beautiful

"It's late," she quietly said

"I tried to call you earlier, but you didn't answer I had sos to look into"

"Murdoch, if I didn't know better, I'd swear you were looking for excuses to be away froed "And we're running out of ti about this, and for your patience withoutside Luckily, he'd had the foresight a few nights ago to buy a get-out-of-jail-free card, an emerald comb he'd kept in his pocket for just such a ti about you, I got you a surprise"

"A gift for ifts!"

Grinning, heinto his coat pocket Empty "It's not here?"

She cast him a sad, crestfallen look that seeet "

A piss day "Daht for your hair" He checked all his pockets, then tore through his things Nothing

He hed, and her tone softened "We'll find it later, Murdoch But for now, you look exhausted Why don't you co up at hirew hard for her "You don't have to askthe cold, he stripped off his clothes - everything but his gloves - as she pulled off her gown Once he joined her in bed, he snagged a blanket She nibbled her lip, her eyes excited, knohat he wanted to do