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Tariq frowned, tapping the table. “I barely remember, only that I had a major headache, but truthfully, I’d had one for several risings. Charlotte had tried to get rid of it for me. This rising, Josef stormed in very angry because he didn’t want to work with any of the ancients tonight. I told him to get out. He did, but he was muttering under his breath. He had those piercings, and for some reason I felt like he was being deliberately disrespectful to me by wearing them. I yelled after him to get rid of them before he came back around. Then I sent someone to him to train. I don’t even remember who right now, but I do remember I wasn’t going to let some kid tell me what to do in my own home.”

“All of that is completely out of character for you,” Maksim pointed out. “Were you aware that it was?”

Tariq nodded. “I couldn’t stop myself. I kept feeling this intense rage, so much so that I told Charlotte to keep the kids away from me and not to come around, either. I didn’t tell her why. I tried to have the house quiet and just get work done.”

“Work?” Gary prompted.

Tariq nodded. “I’ve been neglectful of the nightclubs and needed to oversee them. I try to be hands-on as much as I can, but lately, with everything going on, I’ve left them in the hands of the managers. I thought I could go over the books, the orders, that kind of thing. My head hurt so much, it was nearly impossible.”

“Has anyone new come to work here at the compound? For the security team? Sergey has recruited human male psychics,” Ferro said. “Could he have planted someone?”

“The humans working here are scanned on a nightly basis,” Maksim explained. “Even if Sergey shielded them, we would find the shield.”

Gary sighed. “Ferro, Elisabeta, let’s help young Josef. It will be interesting to see how deep the burns are in him.”

Elisabeta didn’t wait, and Ferro realized it had been difficult for her to remain still when she knew the boy needed her help. He’d attributed her discomfort to being in the room with all the Carpathians, but it had been so much more than that. Someone had need of her. That was what mattered to her. Elisabeta’s entire concentration was centered on Josef. Still, as much as he found himself loving her all the more for her compassion, he was going to have to caution her to wait for him to ensure her safety. For him, making certain his lifemate was safe took precedence over everything else.

The red in Josef’s brain was dark and angry, even more so than in any of the ancients. The scoring seemed much deeper and there was much more of it, as if he had been exposed to the infection for a longer time than any of the ancients. He had been at the compound for only two risings, so did that mean he had been exposed prior to coming? Had he brought the infection with him? Ferro hoped Gary had more of an idea than he did, because he was at a complete loss. Nothing made sense. Now, for certain, they would have to inspect Traian and Joie, as well as everyone Josef had come into contact with. It was going to be a long night and he doubted the things he had planned for his lifemate would come about.

I do not like you feeling as if you have failed me yet again, Ferro. You have never failed me. I do not mind helping these people.

He knew she didn’t. But in helping them, she wasn’t able to have the time to learn the things necessary to help herself. Minan piŋe sarnanak, there is so much for you to know of this world to make you comfortable. I do not want you to ever feel as if you are less than anyone else. You are more. You are beautiful and kind and powerful. As your lifemate, I wish to show you the things that will help you to realize this about yourself, but each rising you are called on to sacrifice what is best for you for the good of others.

She was silent while she concentrated on sending her fresh, soothing breeze to a stubborn slash of deep, violent red that didn’t want to dissipate. When, at last, the scoring thinned, tattered in places and finally beginning to slowly pull apart, she surrounded Ferro with her signature fragrance.