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"Thanks," she said "I see you that a lot lately"

"My pleasure" He looked to where Nika was sleeping "Do youme who she is?"

Andra hesitated She didn’t know thisin order to help the only person on this earth Andra loved She owed him more than she could ever repay "My sister"

Paul’s eyes widened with a desperate kind of hope "Forgive me if this is rude, but do you share both of the same parents?"

Andra was so shocked by the odd question that she didn’t even consider whether or not she should answer "I think so Mom had a boyfriend ould come visit her every few years We never met him, but she loved hiot to see hied, refusing to let the hurt of her childhood rule her life now "I think it was a cover story Mom made up so ouldn’t hate him I believed it for a few years, but eventually I started to resent him What the hell kind of father couldn’t even send a birthday card or call on the phone once in a while? I think he was just sonant and left her to deal with things on her own"

"Sounds like a real winner," said Paul, but there was no fire in his tone, only speculation

"I figure my life was better without hiht," he said, but it didn’t sound like he believed it for ame?" she asked

"About your father? I don’t think so"

Nika let out a whimper in her sleep and Andra went to her side "Shh, baby Sleep"

"They’re co"

Andra’s heart broke open and wept for her sister "You’re safe here I won’t let anything hurt you"

The door to the rooan and Madoc walked in as if they owned the place Andra was starting to question the security here "How did you two get in?"

Logan ignored her question He was too busy sniffing the air for soe shoulders and said, "Once the sun set, Logan pulled his Invisible Man routine and alked right in No sweat"

"He actually went invisible?" asked Andra

"Not exactly," said Logan "It’s more of a trick of the mind"

"Who’s the kid?" asked Madoc He stared at Nika ay too much interest for Andra’s comfort

Andra took a step to the side to block his line of sight "I think you all should leave"

Logan’s pale eyes brightened and he"You never said you had a sister" He pulled in a deep breath through his nose "Her blood is as pure as yours I can smell it"

Andra saw the dark spots of blood on Nika’s gown "You can smell that we’re sisters?" That was too freaky for words

"Logan," said Paul in a warning tone "Back the hell off"

"She’s in so much pain I mean only to ease herof metal on metal filled the air as both Paul and Madoc drew their swords, seean’s throat, Madoc’s to Logan’s crotch

"Touch her and die the hard way," growled Madoc

Logan lifted his elegant hands into the air and the unnatural light in his eyes di I can help"

Andra wasn’t sure as going on "Can he really help her?" Andra asked Paul

Paul spared Andra a quick glance "He’d want to drink her blood"

"It’s the only way to diagnose her--to find the true cause of her an

"Don’t fall for it, Andra," said Madoc "You saw the way he looked at her He wants her blood, and he’s using the excuse of helping her as a way to get it"

"That’s not entirely true I do want her blood, but I also want to help her Just let ive her any coiven the vampire her blood and it hadn’t hurt her, other than a case of the woozies He’d mended her broken ar to take a risk and let hi else"

"As you wish," agreed Logan

Madoc didn’t want to put his sword away He was probably going to need it any second noay Logan was a fucking predator, and he seemed to be the only one who saw that

Madoc didn’t like the idea of Logan getting anywhere near the child He couldn’t see her face from here, but she barely made a bump in the bed, she was so thin Only the bones in her knees and her toes stuck out enough to tent the blanket

Logan glided forward and Andra stepped aside to irl’s face and realized that this was no child She was a young wouessed from her scrawny frame

The woman stirred and Andra laid a hand on her arm "It’s okay, Nika He’s here to help"

Madoc snorted in disgust He couldn’t help it "The only person Logan is going to help is Logan"

"Back off, Madoc," said Paul "He’s not going to hurt her by looking at her"

Logan placed his hand on Nika’s head Just as he did, Nika opened her eyes as if someone had flipped a switch Her skin was deathly pale, nearly as white as her hair Her eyes ith fear, and a pure, brilliant blue like the winter sky And there was so much blue, too Her pupils had shrunk down to pinpoints

She swatted Logan’s hand away and scraainst the far railing of the bed The IV bag swayed on the stand as her flailing swung the tube around

"He wants an in terror "He wants my blood, he wants etting higher and more strained each time