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They might have had kids together.

Black struggled with that awareness, even now. He’d struggled with it a fuck of a lot more back when he and Miriam first started “dating,” or whatever the hell it was they’d been doing back then, before they went full-blown exclusive.

Nick and Jem were still comparatively new.

Maybe Jem hadn’t found a way to make peace with that yet.

Even so, Black could tell Jem felt guilty about reacting to Miri the way he did, especially given what happened to her when Nick was a newborn.

He couldn’t help how he felt, though, any more than Black could.

But Jem never reacted to Miriam the way he’d reacted to that kid.

Jem looked at Aura like he intended to kill her.

Until now, Black had never seen Jem look atanyonelike that. Frankly, he never would have believed Jem could be capable of that kind of unflinching hatred towards a seer so young, much less one who’d been through what Aura had.

Black was still thinking about that, and about Aura, when Miri spoke.

“I’ll talk to him,” she said.

“Now?” Black asked cautiously. “Or should I tell him––”

“Now,” she said. “I think you’re right. This can’t wait. I can at least try to assess him. If we have another venom-addicted seer, especially one of Jem’s sight rank and abilities, that’s going to be a huge problem. Even apart from what it might do to him if we don’t address it right away.” She gave Black a serious look. “You might want to talk to Nick about laying off on feeding on Jem until we sort out what’s causing this.”

Black felt an intense plume of relief.

“I will,” he promised. “I’ll go find him right now.”

“See if you can get any more information off him, too,” Miri added, scowling a little. “Nick is too secretive about Jem. Tell him it’s important, that we’re worried about him and we need to know. If he gives you a hard time, or if you lose your temper with him…”

She gave Black a meaningful look.

“…Tell him I want the two of us to go out tonight and talk. We can just walk in the park, or by the beach or something, if he’s okay with that. He can bring his new dog, and I’ll bring Panther and we’ll talk.”

Black’s shoulders relaxed even more.

He could see the set expression on her face.

She was working, even now.

It occurred to him only then that he’d genuinely believed it had to be Miri.

Jem wouldn’t talk to Yarli, and worse, Jem was skilled enough with his light to be able to keep Yarli out, even if Blackorderedhim to conduct sight sessions with the other seer. Nick wouldn’t talk to Yarli either. Hopefully they’d both talk to the doc.

Black smiled at his wife, feeling his shoulders relax.

“Good,” he said, softer. “Thanks, doc. I mean it.”

“Oh, I know you mean it.” She smiled sweetly. “But you still owe me for this, Quentin… and I don’t only mean the beach house you promised me. You’re racking up some serious bills, and I plan to collect, husband.”

He snorted.

His only real answer, though, was a wicked smile of his own.

23

THE SHADOW