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Empty.

Tangled sheets spilled from the mattress, and the contents of her IV dripped onto the floor. Where the hell was she? Doc wouldn’t have moved her without his permission.

Jericho clenched his fists, the answer staring him in the face.

The deceitful faerie had bolted.

What a fool he’d been to spare her a crumb of concern. While Liam lay on his deathbed, she’d bailed. After all her posturing and declarations about looking out for Liam’s interest. Like all faeries, the selfish, conniving female thought only of herself.

Security wasn’t as tight in medical. It was possible she’d made it to the upper floors. Given enough time, there was no telling how far she’d gone.

He stormed down the hall, bursting into the exam room.

Doc jerked and sucked in a breath. “Dammit, Jericho,” he grumbled, turning from Colin’s blistered arm.

“When did you last see Alex?” Jericho demanded.

Doc’s forehead bunched. “Why?”

Jericho bit back a snarl, struggling to maintain his usual composure. “She’s not in her room.”

“Alex is gone?” Colin hopped off the medical table.

“That’s impossible. The sedative I gave her should have knocked her out.” Doc scurried toward the door. His concern for the girl stoked Jericho’s fury. Alex didn’t deserve the doctor’s sympathies.

“How long?” he demanded again.

“Two hours at most.”

“Enough time to make it out of Claymore.” Jericho rushed past him into the hall. When he found her, he’d make sure she spent the rest of her recovery in a cell beside Liam’s assassin.

“Jericho, wait!” Doc’s hand slammed down on his shoulder, daring to pull him to a stop. Jericho swung around, flashing fangs.

Doc flinched, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I think I know where she is.” He strode down the hallway with Jericho close on his heels. Colin followed in their wake while Ivy stayed behind, fingers pressed to her mouth.

“Colin, stay there,” Doc barked.

“Yeah, right,” Colin snorted. “No way I’m missing this.”

Once Jericho saw the direction Doc headed, his frown deepened. Surely, this was the last place they’d find her. He brushed past the doctor and stormed into Liam’s room.

When both chairs were empty, his fury spiked. He glanced at the massive vampire lying unconscious in the bed, and his chest deflated.

Liam wasn’t alone.

While Jericho’s friend took up most of the mattress, Alex had managed to squeeze in beside him. Wet lashes rested against her tear-streaked cheeks. Even in sleep, pain and worry creased her delicate brow.

She lay with her head on Liam’s thick biceps—probably just like she did every night. The hem of her gown bunched high on her hips, exposing a creamy expanse of thigh, her pale hand stark where it rested on his bare stomach.

Jericho’s anger did an abrupt about-face, and his brain struggled to catch up. Alex didn’t bolt. She’d headed straight for Liam.

“Everything okay?” Colin asked from his position near the door.

“Yeah.” Jericho raked his hair off his forehead.

Doc stepped closer. “I’m surprised she made it this far with the medication I placed in her IV. She was upset that I denied her access to him. Guess she decided to take matters into her own hands.”

Not even a gunshot wound nor heavy sedative had deterred her. Could it be her feelings for Liam were real?