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“Not to my knowledge.”

That wasn’t a no. “And your clan leader. What’s his opinion on my being here?”

“He’s aware of the situation.”

So much for patient confidentiality. She peeked at the doctor from beneath her bangs. “If you know I’m a faerie, then you know my blood is exactly what Liam needs.”

Doc shifted from one foot to the other, flipping the metal clip on his chart with his thumb. Something was wrong. Something Doc didn’t want to tell her.

“You’re still healing. You need to focus on your recovery.”

She clenched the sheets in her fists, grating, “Injured or not, I can still help him.” Hot tears burned her eyes, and she scrubbed them away with the heels of her palms. She barely had the energy to hold her head up. Everything hurt, and Claymore’s condescending doctor was trying to keep her from Liam.

Doc shook his head. “I’m sorry, Alex. Jericho should be here later. Once you talk, things will make more sense. In the meantime, I want you to get some rest.”

Jericho? What the heck did he have to do with this?

Doc fiddled with her IV before tugging the blanket over her lap. “Do you want something to eat? The pain medication can be hard on your stomach.”

She relaxed against the pillow. “No, thanks. I think I’ll just sleep for a bit.”

“Alright. I’ll be back to check on you in a couple hours.” Doc walked to the door and dimmed the lights before heading out.

She sat quietly, listening as his footsteps faded down the hallway. With every second that passed, her brain grew foggier and her eyelids heavier. “What the hell did he put in this thing?” She peeled the tape from her hand and pulled the IV out.

That done, she flung the blanket aside and eased her legs over the edge of the mattress. Her shoulder pounded, insisting she abandon her plan and follow the doctor’s orders.

She took a deep breath and stood, her legs like two useless sticks jutting from her hips. After a nauseating moment, the tilting room leveled.

The sooner Liam was on his feet again, the sooner they could get the hell out of Claymore.

* * *

“Fucking Gavin,”Colin groaned, limping at Jericho’s side. The stench of scorched hair and singed flesh wafted from his body. “I figured he’d have more control over his internal blowtorch than that. Bastard didn’t just burn that sofa. Freaking thing went up like an atom bomb.”

Despite his inexperience, Colin was one of the few males Jericho trusted to keep Alex’s secret. Once Alex and Liam were settled in medical, he and his partner returned to Howlers. All traces of the faerie’s blood needed to be eliminated. They should have known better than to let the fire demon assist. Jericho swiped his hand over his face, grateful he still had two eyebrows. And to think the bastard intended to cauterize Alex’s wounds.

“What’s the word on Liam?” Colin peered at him from beneath a clump of charred hair.

“He’s in stasis.” The vampires’ version of a coma. One step away from death’s door.

Jericho hated feeling this powerless. Though Doc had done what he could, there were some injuries even a vampire as strong as Liam couldn’t survive. Doc suspected the only reason they hadn’t lost him yet was that Liam was too stubborn to die.

“I realize staring death in the eye will make a guy desperate,” Colin added. “Still, I can’t believe he handed Alex over to you. I saw him break a demon’s arm once just for touching her shoulder. I guess it makes sense, though, why he was so protective of his littlehuman.” Colin wiggled two fingers, making air quotes. “Twenty bucks says the Council doesn’t know she exists. If that’s the case, he took one hell of a risk.”

“Agreed,” Jericho growled. What the hell was Liam thinking? Tying himself to one ofthem?

Seeming to pick up on Jericho’s deepening disquiet, Colin hitched his shoulder. “It’s possible he didn’t turn her in because her gift is of the mundane variety. You know, maybe she can talk to goldfish or some shit like that.”

“One could hope.” Jericho frowned. Alex was his Chosen now, and yet he had no idea what she was capable of. The thought chilled him. If she was anything like Sivanah…

“Do you think Victor will order you to hand her over to the Council?”

“Perhaps.” If that happened, he’d be forced to betray Liam’s dying wish. His old friend had placed him in a difficult position with no simple answers.

Feminine laughter echoed from the end of the corridor.

Colin picked up the pace, raking a hand through his charred mane. “Sounds like Ivy’s on duty.”