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One finger at a time, he uncurled her fist and pressed her hand against his chest. The lines between her brows softened, and she splayed her palm over his heart. Her eyes met his, brimming with confusion.

“You sensed my disgust without understanding the source.” Victor wasn’t wrong when he said she had no experience using her gift. “It wasn’t for you, but for the lowlife who did this to you.” He’d love nothing more than to end him once Slade finished his interrogation.

A smallohof surprise took shape on her lips. Another jab to his pride. He’d been tending hergunshot wound.Did she really think he was such a cold and unfeeling bastard? Yes, she did. And considering the way he’d treated her, maybe he deserved that. From now on, he’d have to make sure he kept his emotions in check around her. If he didn’t, she might sensethings he refused to share with anyone, especially Alex.

She lowered her gaze, conceding. “I guess I misread the situation.” She glanced at her hand on his chest and stiffened, pulling away with a guilty flush on her cheeks.

Jericho forced a clinical detachment while he replaced the bandages, then circled to the exit wound on her back. He swept her mass of red hair over her shoulder and hesitated.

Like flowering vines, a faint, iridescent marking ran the length of Alex’s spine. Herglyphwas much fainter than Sivanah’s had been. Perhaps because Alex was still coming into her powers? The delicate scrolling pattern started somewhere below the waistband of her slacks and extended up her spine to the base of her neck.

He finished the last bandage and dipped his head, taking a closer look. “What happened here?”

She peered back at him. “What do you mean?”

“Yourglyph.It looks irritated. Did something happen?”

“It’s been burning ever since…you know.” She paused and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

The hell it didn’t. Victor did this to her.

“The mark appeared a couple years ago. At first, it was so faint you could hardly see it. Sometimes it burns as it gets darker. Just another one of the many benefits of being a faerie, I guess.” Her tone dripped resentment.

Before she could object, he firmed his mental shields and smoothed some ointment over her reddened skin.

Alex’s sharp gasp locked him in place.

Did he hurt her? He tensed to pull back. Except, her gasp hadn’t resonated with pain. It was more like—

She arched into his hand with a soft groan of pleasure.

Reassured, he swirled his fingertips over the delicate marking.Her shoulders drooped, and her arms hung limp at her sides. He stroked herglyphin slow, soothing circles, fascinated by the effect it was having on the little sympath. Well, hell, if he’d known the female had a damned off button…

While Alex melted beneath his touch, Jericho’s body drew tighter. His gut clenched at her hum of appreciation, and he was careful to keep his reaction in check. Her scent, like sweet strawberries and sultry summer nights, grew stronger with every stroke, almost as if she desi—

“Holy crap.” Alex snapped to attention, spun, and snatched her shirt from the ground. Wide-eyed, breasts heaving, she backed away like cornered prey. Dark instincts urged him to follow, so he rooted his feet to the floor.

Her expression radiated distrust and wordless accusations. “What did you…? How did you…?” She stomped her foot. “Dammit.”

Jericho frowned. Purring one minute and hissing the next. He rubbed his forehead, his patience running thin.

“Now what? I was shielding my emotions, just as you asked,” he growled.

“It’s just… Myglyph. No one’s ever… I mean.” Her chin inched higher. “You shouldn’t touch me like that. That’s all.”

“Fine,” Jericho bit out, suddenly exhausted. He gathered up the supplies and tossed the bag onto the dresser. “Do you need anything before I go?” He shot her a narrow look from beneath his brows.

She opened her mouth, then hesitated, looking uncomfortable. “Just one thing.” Her cheeks flushed, and she took a sudden interest in the toe of her flats.

This should be interesting. “What is it?”

Her eyes darted to his face. “Your shirt. The one you’re wearing.”

He glanced down at the black T-shirt he wore, tugging the fabric away from his stomach. “My shirt?”

“Um, yeah. Liam always had me sleep in his shirt. He said it would help hide the fact that I’m a faerie.”

Why would she need Liam’s shirt if she was sleeping beside him? His scent would have been all over her.Shrug.Liam must have had his reasons.