"Marriott, St. Louis?" she said with a frown. "Never wanted to go to St. Louis."

Neither spoke. She glanced up. Gabriel's head was tilted to the side, as if listening, and Rhyn's form had relaxed.

They were communicating silently. She wrote Kris a short message and folded the paper, presenting it to Gabriel. Rhyn snatched it and read it before tearing off the strip at the bottom with the hotel's address.

He gave her a dirty look. She rolled her eyes at him.

"I'll let Kris know not to worry about Katie," Gabriel said.

"He only need concern himself with his head," Rhyn responded. "The girl is mine. Nothing anyone can do about it."

"Unless someone kills you permanently," she said. "Right?"

Both looked at her, fleeting amusement on Gabriel's face but Rhyn's gaze flaring.

"Try it, and you'll spend eternity with Sasha," Rhyn snapped.

"How much do you charge for assassinations, Gabriel?" she asked, ignoring Rhyn.

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"A life for a life."

"Defeats the purpose, doesn't it?"

"Not if you're already dead or immortal."

"Out, Gabriel," Rhyn growled.

The death dealer disappeared. Rhyn gave Katie a long, withering look that she bore with crossed arms. Looking ready to explode, he rose, snatching his trench coat.

"What does it mean that I'm your mate?"

"It means I can't kill you, as much as I'd like to!"

He breezed by her and wrenched the door open, slamming it closed. Frustrated when he was around, she couldn't help but feel unusually alone when he was gone.

* * *

Gabriel returned to the Sanctuary in the Caribbean and paced in front of the hourglass perched on the altar. He wasn't able to shake his unease. Rhyn wasn't as far along as he'd hoped.

The sand in the hourglass had begun to fall faster the past two days. Rhyn didn't have a week.

He needed more time.

Gabriel crossed to the window and stared at where the dark ocean and night sky met in the distance. He willed his friend to learn the lessons he needed to, and fast.

Of all the mortals and immortals alike he'd ever known, he'd never considered one a friend, not since his father's death. He'd often wondered if he had more family somewhere. If he did, he hoped he had a brother like Rhyn.

Feeling helpless, he glanced again at the hourglass. For the first time since he was a child, he was worried.

* * *

She awoke in a sweat, the blurred scenes of gore and screams of dying from her dreams fading. The room was dark; she was alone. Disoriented, she leaned over to turn on the lamp. It was almost two in the morning.




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