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Qhuinn hated nights off Absolutely despised the at a TV that wasn&039;t on, it dawned on hi for close to an hour now Still, getting the re hassle for not much in return

Damn it, there were only soyou could do on the Internet A limited number of trips you could take up and down to the kitchen

Yeah, and that last one was especially true, given Saxton was still using the library as his own personal office That "supersecret king stuff" was taking hietting distracted a lot By a certain redhead -

Okay, not going there Nope

Qhuinn glanced at his watch again Eleven o&039;clock "Fucking hell"

Seven thirty to his eyes to the flat wall across the way, he illing to bet John Mattheas next door, locked in the sarind Maybe they should head out and have a drink soo to the effort of getting dressed just to have a beer around a bunch of drunk, horny humans? At one point in time, it would have sexed him up Now, the prospect of all that pathetic, alcohol-induced yearning depressed the shit out of him

He didn&039;t want to be home Didn&039;t want to be out

Christ, he wasn&039;t sure he even wanted to be fighting, for thatslice of empty

Oh, for fuck&039;s sake, as his problem -

His phone beeped beside him and he picked it up without any real interest The text made no sense: Allfacility Thanx, Doc Jane

Huh?

He got up, grabbed a robe, and went over to John&039;s The knock was answered i his head in, he found his buddy in the sa - except the plasma screen was on 1000 Ways to Die on Spike TV Nice

"Did you get that text?"

Which one?

"From Doc Jane" Qhuinn tossed his cell over "Any ideas?"

John read it and shrugged Not a clue But I&039;ve already worked out You?

"Yeah" He walked around the roo"

The whistle he got in reply was a big fat yup

"You want to go out?" he asked with all the enthusias a trip to a nail parlor

Movement on the bed drew his eyes around: John was up on his feet and heading for his closet

Across his back, deep in his skin, the nae:

XHEXANIA

Poor bastard

As the male pulled on a black button-down and covered his bare ass in leather, Qhuinn shrugged Guess they were going for a beer

"I&039;ll go get clothes and be right back"

Stepping out into the hall, he frowned and followed a co that overlooked the foyer

Leaning over the gold-leafed railing, he called out, "Layla?"

As the na rooless, the expressional equivalent of a blank wall "How fare thee?"

He had to laugh "You&039;re blowin&039; me aith all that happy joy-joy"

"I&039;m sorry" She seemed to snap out of her distraction "I don&039;t mean to be rude"

"Don&039;t worry about it What are you doing here?" He shook his head "What I mean is, were you summoned?"

Had someone come hoht to do I&039; about as you would say"

Co that a lot, just hanging around in the periphery, loitering as if she aiting for soht abruptly He couldn&039;t quite put his finger on it, but lately she had changed: Grave Less quick to smile Serious

To put it in hu as he&039;d known her Now she was starting to look like a wo this side of the divide had to offer Noenthusiasm No more

Shit, she looked a lot like he and John did Worn out by the world

"Hey, you want to come out with us?" he asked

"Out? As in"

"John and I are going to go have a drink Maybe two Maybe more I think you should come with us After all, misery loves company"

She linked her arms over her chest "Is it so obvious?"

"You&039;re still beautiful"

Layla laughed "You&039;re being char"

"Lady in distress, you know the drill Come out with us - let&039;s just kill some time"

She looked around Then she picked up her skirting and ascended the stairs When she got to the top, she stared at hi?"

"Long as it&039;s not hed a little, but quickly lost the levity "Did you ever think life would be so eh I could choke on the void"

Jesus, he thought Yeah, he did

"Come here," he told her As she stepped into hiainst his chest and resting his chin on the top of her head "You are such a good fe again"

"And you are still in distress"

She relaxed in his arood to me"

"Back at you"

"It&039;s not you, you know I&039; over you anymore"

"I know" He rubbed her back as a brother would "So tell ht just have to get you to tell "