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“We’ll do our best.” Feehan held open the door for Ella and Vadim and closed it behind him. “She seems like a nice woman.”

“For someone who’s desperately trying to protect her ass. She’s got an influential political family breathing down her neck, which might affect future hospital funding,andshe’s got to stop any stories leaking to the media about Brad’s stolen face.” Ella turned to Feehan. “I bet she’ll have Brad sedated. She won’t want him talking about any of this.”

She walked right into Vadim, who had stopped in the middle of the hallway. Feehan kept moving. “What’s up?”

“I think I’ll go back and see Brad and make absolutely certain he won’t wake up and scare his parents.”

“You can do that?”

He smiled. “Haven’t you ever heard of Fae who can make humans sleep a thousand years?” He turned toward Brad’s room. “Don’t worry, I can bring him out of it too. I’ll meet you in the parking lot.”

Ella watched him walk away and followed Feehan down the stairs to the staff parking garage. Could Vadim really put people to sleep? What else could the man do? Sometimes it seemed better not to ask.

* * *

Vadim knocked softlyon Brad’s door and waited until the nurse answered him. He gave her his best smile and she preened.

“I’m sorry to bother you—” he glanced down at her name tag, “—Delia, but I need to return Brad’s phone to him. Is that okay?”

“Sure. Do you want me to give it to him?”

“I’d rather give it to him myself. I don’t want him to think I can’t be trusted.”

“That’s fine. Go right on in.”

When he approached the gurney, Brad’s eyes were half-closed, but they opened when Vadim took his hand.

“Hey. Did you find out something already?”

“Not yet. I’m just returning your phone and wallet. I’ll put them on the side here, okay?”

Even as he replaced the items, Vadim concentrated on tracking that small and ever-eroding stream of Otherworld magic that clung to Brad like cologne. One taste was enough for him to identify a creature’s magical genes, his family, his connections and his power. After a moment, Vadim pushed more magic through Brad and waited until he fell asleep.

The nurse hovered at the end of the bed and Vadim nodded to her.

“Thanks for letting me see him.”

“You’re welcome.” She walked him to the door. “You’re not from around here, are you?”

“No, I’m originally from Russia.”

“How cool is that?” She widened her eyes and leaned against the doorframe, arching her back. “I’d love to go there one day.”

“You should. It’s a wonderful country.”

She glanced around and closed the door behind them. “I don’t normally do this, but can I give you my number? Just in case you ever need someone to show you around town.”

“That’s very sweet of you, but?—”

“But you’re already taken.” She sighed. “All the nice ones are.”

“It was still a pleasure to meet you.”

“Same here.”

Vadim nodded and headed back down the hallway toward the bank of elevators, his thoughts focused on deciphering the myriad of messages from the Otherworld magic he’d sensed. When he first identified the power through Ella, it had felt vaguely familiar, and now he was sure of it.

He pressed the button and watched the lights of the elevator flicker downward to his level. He sensed Ella in the parking lot below him and concentrated on screening his thoughts from her. Of course, if he was right and the creature returned to seek his prey, he’d blown his cover completely, because like knew like.