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Qhuinn left Layla&039;s roo hi that ran down the corridor to the head of the stairs As he kept going by Wrath&039;s study, he was vaguely aware of so his name, but he paid no attention

At the far end of the hall of statues, past Z and Bella&039;s suite, the room where Payne and Manny stayed had a closed door, but the sound of a television quietly murmured on the far side

Qhuinn took a second to collect the pieces of his blown mind, and then knocked

"Enter," came the response

As he stepped inside, the rooht Payne was lying in the bed, her skin so pale it reflected the changing is," she said in a slurred voice

"JesusChrist"

"No, I am afraid not" She smiled Or at least, half of her s"

He shut the door softly "What happened?"

Even though he sort of knew

"Is she well?" Payne asked "Is your fenant still?"

"The tests seem to indicate so"

"Good That pleases ?" he blurted out And then wanted to knee hihly "I do not believe so I&039;m very weak, however"

Qhuinn&039;s feet carried him across the carpet "Sowhat happened?"

Payne struggled to push herself higher on her pillows, but then gave up "I think I&039;s under the duvet "When I first came here, I was able to lay hands and heal with little or no after effects Every ti me down further And what I endeavored with your fe was"

"You nearly killed yourself," he filled in

She shrugged "I woke up on the floor next to her bed I dragged ot y Now, it see I can do?"

"I think I o to my mother&039;s sanctuary" This was said with total derision "For a recharge, as it were It seeift I just need to get strong enough to ather the will to I should much prefer to re itself for otiate with one&039;s physical form, after a point"

Yeah, he kne that was

"I can&039;t" He dragged a hand through his hair "I don&039;t kno to thank you"

"When she gives birth, then you may thank me There is much unknown ahead that is still to be crossed"

Not anyht His vision, the one on the door to the Fade, was once again on track to co to stay that way

Qhuinn withdrew one of the daggers from his chest and streaked the sharp blade across the inside of his palm As blood welled and started to drip, he offered himself to the female

"I hereby offer the oath of my - " He stopped short He didn&039;t have any bloodline to speak of, not with that disavowal in his background "I offer the oath of my honor to you and yours from now until the final beat ofyou shall call upon me for shall be provided without question or hesitation"

On one level, it seehter of adeity Like Payne needed any help?

Payne&039;s dagger hand ht "I would rather have your honor than any bloodline upon the earth"

As their eyes hter-to-fighter, in spite of their sexes

"I will never be able to thank you enough," he said

"Would that she h Both of them, that is"

"I have the sense they will now Thanks to you"

It felt weird to want to bow to the fes you just ith, and he did Then he turned away, not wanting to keep her up if she was going to rest

Just as his hand locked onto the doorknob, Payne murmured, "If you thank anyone, it should be Blaylock"

Qhuinn froze Cranked back around "Whatdid you say?"

Assail stayed put as that Audi skidded out of the parking lot and hit the road beyond like his burglar had planted a bomb in the restaurant and just hit the detonator