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Sum, a blonde Harpy approached the table She wore a sequined bra and spandex shorts, her hair braided at the sides in two perfect ropes "What’s up, guys?"

"We want you to give our friend a lap dance," the scarred warrior said Then, to Koldo, "I bet you can’t resist that"

Her gaze slid to Koldo She was a pretty little thing, ide green eyes and freckles scattered across her nose He wasn’t into freckles "You wanther thumb in his direction

"Yes," Xerxes replied, deadpan

"He looks like a cold-blooded killer"

In Koldo’s case, looks were not deceiving "You don’t have to--"

"So of course I’ll give him a lap dance!"

Wait What? "No, thank you I don’t want--"

"Whoohoo, this is gonna be fun" She fist-pumped the air "Are you prepared to soar?"

"We’re already in the skies, sweet," Thane said, clearly fighting a wave of amusement

She rolled her eyes "Whatevs He knehat I meant Didn’t you, Killer?"

"I would rather you not--" Koldo began, only to be cut off again

"Move the table," the girl said, rubbing her hands together "I want to get this party train out of the station the right way And that’s "

Koldo pinched the bridge of his nose as Bjorn and Xerxes stood to obey the Harpy Before the warriors could get started, he stiffened

Not because of their intentions, and not because of the Harpy Deep inside, where instinct sizzled and crackled, he experienced a sudden knowing

Nicola was in trouble

"I have to go" He ju the floor

"Well, that’s one way to do it," the girl muttered

Zacharel’s orders stated that Koldo was to remain with Thane twenty-three hours a day If he disobeyed, he risked punishet to co at hinored

"Wait You’re leaving right now?" The Harpy’s pink, glittery lips fell into a seductive pout "But I haven’t even started yet, and I’ve got some wicked-cool aze narrowed on Koldo "We’re not leaving We do, and I’ll never get you back here"

The warrior had just as ave Koldo all the bargaining power he needed "We’ll return You have my word Until then, you had better follow" He inforo and flashed to the hospital, butNicola wasn’t there He flashed to her office She wasn’t there, either He did, however, spot a Sent One, as well as a girl he didn’t recognize but thought he should

There was no time to question either female He flashed to Nicola’s house, but his redhead wasn’t there, either Her second jobnope Back to the hospital, where he materialized at an eood decision Laila had been moved to a new roos at his sides as he looked around "What are we doing here?"

"You’re waiting for me to concludemy business"

Without another word, he flashed to Laila’s new roo over her sister’s body

CHAPTER SIX

KOLDO ASSESSED THE SITUATION quickly Laila’s heartThere was a sharp odor in the air--the scent of i, even with thedeath Though she wasn’t dead, her spirit was already halfway out of her body, about to ascend or descend whatever path she’d chosen for herself

She wouldn’t last er Once the spirit was all the way out, the body couldn’t survive

Nicola’s forehead rested on the bed, her delicate shoulders shaking as she cried with the intense force of her despair Despairaboth of the toxins Soon, every dery to feed off her

"Nicola," he said, stepping into the natural real visible His first word to her in all these edy struck, he realized

Her attention whipped up to hiasped, "Koldo," with a big dose of surprise Her nose was stuffed, her voice no longer s to splotchy cheeks "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"

How could he explain that he’d felt her pain, when he wasn’t sure hohy he’d done so? Ignoring the question, he forced his gaze to , "Yes I shouldn’t be crying I knew this was co away the tears, perhaps even trying to rub away the tension "She needs me to be calm I need me to be calhing, she fell against the back of the chair She released a breath, drew in another, and her nose wrinkled adorably "Last time you smelled wonderful This time you smell like a brothel"

He wasn’t e had ever or would ever embarrass him He wasoverheated Yes That’s why his cheeks suddenly felt as though they were on fire "And how do you knohat a brothel smells like?"