Several children lounged around, and a couple adults were sipping coffee, keeping watch over everything. When Andra came in, everyone stopped what they were doing and stared.
“What is this place?” she asked Paul.
“We call it Dabyr. It’s home for about five hundred men, women, and children.”
“You mean those kids live here? It’s not just a vacation spot?”
“That’s right.”
“Why?”
“Some because their parents live here, though most of them are orphans under our care. Today was a school day, but now that the school day is over, they hang out and do kid stuff.”
“But it’s summer.”
Paul smiled. “We like to keep them busy so they stay out of trouble.”
“They don’t look like they’re causing any trouble to me,” said Andra.
“That’s usually when they’re at their worst. Especially the teens. They’re always planning something—fighting against the confines of this place.”
“I would have loved to have a place like this to go when I was a kid.”
“You say that now, but many of these kids have no choice about being here. They can stay here, or they can die when the Synestryn hunt them down for food. That kind of thing grates on the more rebellious teens.”
“Do they make any other kind?” she asked.
“Not since I’ve been alive.”
They passed through the dining area and turned right, entering a long hallway. “Where are we going?”
“I thought we could check to be sure Nika is settled in my suite before we go see Joseph Rayd.”
His wide shoulders stretched the gray knit of his shirt, letting her see the yummy bulge of muscles over his back. His dark blond hair was mussed, and from her side view she could tell he was in desperate need of a shave.
Or maybe not. The soft scratch of those whiskers over her skin would be a pleasurable sort of pain—the kind a woman could definitely get used to. Paul knew what he was doing when it came to giving her pleasure.
“Who is Joseph Rayd?”
“The unlucky bastard who was elected to lead us. He keeps us all in line—as much as anyone could. He’ll need to know about you and Nika.”
“He’s going to agree to help her, right?”
“He will. Nika is one of ours now.”
Andra let out a slow breath of relief. She was sure that if anyone could help Nika, it would be these people.
Paul led her down another long hallway that reminded her of a hotel. Doors lined each side, though they were farther apart than in any hotel she’d stayed in. At a door near the end of the hall, he slid a key card in the lock and opened the door for her to enter first.
Andra was shocked to find that though it looked like a hotel room from the outside, inside it looked like a normal home. The place was neat, with only a few pieces of art on the walls—all seascapes. One wall was lined with shelves that groaned with the weight of hundreds of books. The couch and matching recliner were worn, but looked comfortable, and the flat-screen TV nearly took up one wall all by itself. A small kitchen was tucked into one corner, with a round table and two chairs crowding the space.
“Took you long enough,” said Madoc in a low voice. He quietly shut the door he’d just come out of so the latch didn’t even click. In his hand was an empty water glass.
“How did you get in my rooms?” asked Paul.
“Morgan had Nicholas pop the lock remotely.” Madoc went to Paul’s kitchen and ducked his head to peer into the refrigerator.
Andra nodded to the glass. “Did you get her to drink?”
“Yeah. She’s sleeping again, though.”
“Good. Where did Morgan go?” asked Andra.
Madoc pulled out a beer, opened it, and took a long pull from the bottle. “I’m sure he went to tell everyone we’ve found two more women. This place is going to be crawling with men within the hour.”
“I’ve got to go see Joseph,” said Paul.
“Then I’m staying here with Nika.” Madoc pulled a chair out from the small kitchen table and crammed his body into the tight space. He leaned back and got comfortable, as if he weren’t planning to leave anytime soon.
Paul gave a grudging nod. “Fine. Stay.” He turned to Andra. “You should stay here, too.”
“I think I should talk to this leader guy with you. Just in case he needs any convincing to help Nika.”
Paul’s mouth tightened. “I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”
“Maybe not, but if I go along, then I can make sure it’s not.”
“Suit yourself.”
Andra dropped her overnight bag and followed Paul to the door. He opened and held it for her to exit. When she hit the hotel-style hall, she was jarred again by the fact that this wasn’t some suburban home. And then she was jarred even more when she collided with the chest of a man coming down the hall.
Andra bounced off the man and Paul steadied her before she could fall on her ass and humiliate herself further. Paul’s hands were surprisingly strong, even for a guy as big as he was, and though she was steady on her feet, he didn’t let go. He kept a loose grip on her waist and elbow, and his touch caused a surge of heat to lance through her stomach. She knew she should pull away, but it felt too good to be touched by such strong, capable hands. She’d seen what the man could do with a sword—the brutal lethality he was capable of—but right now, all she felt was gentleness and warmth and tingly spirals rioting around in her belly.
“Joseph,” said Paul in greeting. “I’d like you to meet Andra Madison.”
Joseph was taller than Paul, nearly six and a half feet. He had broad shoulders, but they were bent, like he bore the weight of an invisible burden. Deep worry lines etched his handsome face, and his hazel eyes were sunken and rimmed with red from lack of sleep. His short dark hair was graying at the temples, and his clothes looked like they had been slept in. Twice.
Andra automatically held out her hand in greeting and she felt Paul tense beside her. Joseph shook her hand with a firm grip. “It’s wonderful to meet you, my lady.”
My lady? Andra looked behind her just to make sure he wasn’t talking to someone else. “Uh. Thank you.”
“It’s a formal term. Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it.”
Yeah, right.
When Joseph let go of her hand, Paul relaxed, though she could see his intense gaze scrutinizing Joseph as if looking for something.
Andra ignored Paul’s oddness. Maybe these two weren’t on the best of terms. She really didn’t care as long as he agreed to help Nika. “Do you know why we’re here?”
Joseph nodded, but he was frowning at the ring on his left hand—the one that all these men seemed to wear. “I’ve heard your sister is ill. Morgan said she’s dangerously thin.”
“She’s . . . troubled.” Andra’s cheeks flamed with embarrassment, not because her sister was sick, but because Andra had let it happen. It was her failure that had nearly killed Nika.
“It’s her mind that is most at risk, Joseph,” said Paul. “She’s lived with this for eight years.”
Joseph’s mouth opened in shock. “That can’t be right. Eight years? And she still lives?”
“She’s strong,” said Andra. “She doesn’t look like it now, but she’s a fighter. She tries so hard to overcome the images in her head. She’s been in therapy for years, but nothing seems to help.”
“Of course not. Human therapy would do nothing to aid her. I’m calling in Tynan.” Joseph pulled a cell phone out of his pocket.
“Logan said she’s too weak to give him her blood.”
“Then we’ll find another way. We won’t let her die. She’s too valuable.”
Andra wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but if he thought she was valuable, and that made him act faster, then it worked for her.
“The men will all want to see her, touch her,” said Paul. “I think that would only make things worse.”
Andra grabbed Paul’s arm. “I am not going to let a bunch of men parade through her room pawing at her.”
Paul cupped Andra’s cheek. “Of course not. But you have to understand how much these men are suffering. If she is compatible with one or more of them, the way you are with me, it might be another way to help her.”
Andra was torn. She wanted to do whatever she could for Nika, but she’d seen what these people were like. They were aggressive, demanding. Scary. At least, they would be to Nika. “You saw the way she reacted to Logan.”
“She seems to be fine with Madoc,” said Paul.
Joseph’s dark brows rose. “You don’t think . . .”
“No. I checked. His luceria didn’t react to her. In fact, the colors are faded.” He said that last part like it held some kind of special meaning.
“Do you think we need to keep an eye on him?” asked Joseph.
“Yes. I know he’d never hurt her as long as his lifemark holds out, but once it’s barren . . .”
“I’ll have Nicholas keep an electronic eye on him. His security cameras pick up everything.”
Andra looked between the men, trying to figure out what they were talking about. “Are you guys saying that Nika might be at risk with Madoc?”
“I’m sure he’s fine right now. He’s just . . . running out of time.”
“He’s dying?”
Paul’s mouth opened and shut again as if he were deciding what to say. “Yes, but it’s not contagious. We just need to be watchful for signs that he’s changing. Getting . . . darker.”
“The man is already about as angry as they come. I’m going back inside with my sister.”
“We need to talk, Paul,” said Joseph.
Paul gave Andra the key card. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to need your help with this.”
Andra went back into the suite and found Madoc standing in Nika’s doorway. He filled up the space, so that she could hardly see her sister sleeping peacefully on the bed. But she was, and something inside Andra loosened and relaxed.
“What are you doing?” demanded Andra in a whisper.
Madoc spun around like he hadn’t heard her come close. He scowled and pulled the door shut before pushing past her, ignoring her question.
“Don’t ignore me. I asked you what you were doing.”
“I was just checking on her.”
“Paul says you’re dying, and it sounded like before you did you were going to turn into something nasty. Is that true?”
“Close enough.” He flopped down on the couch and powered on the TV.
Andra snatched the remote away and turned it off. The threatening look that crossed his face gave her pause, but she didn’t back down. “I want you to stay away from her. Far away.”
“Just what the hell do you think I’m going to do, lady?”
“I don’t know, and that’s the problem. I don’t know anything about you guys or what you do or what you’re capable of. What I do know is that if Paul is worried, then it must be bad, because he knows how to handle himself. Nika doesn’t.”