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Daisy locked gazes with Estelle and gave a quick nod.

“You’re good. You got this.” Estelle grabbed her hand and squeezed it tight.

A stab of ice raked down Daisy’s spine. She cried out as the iced turned to a blazing heat. She writhed in the chair, only the restraints and Estelle’s hand keeping her in place.

“Hold her head, Estelle,” Atticus said. “This looks like it’ll be a bumpy ride.”

Daisy was forced to stay still as fire ate at her insides. She couldn’t help herself, as hard as she tried, a cry of agony ripped from her lips. Then darkness dragged her down, deep down, and away from the agony piercing her insides.

***

Rexx flexed his hands. The knuckles were still sore from where he’d tried to break down the door and get to Daisy.

He could still hear her cries as the chaser had torn through her, ripping out the Inkral invasion.

Atticus had definitely not mentioned that as a side effect.

But everything was now good. He tightened his hold on Daisy as they lay side by side in the small bed. She’d survived. She was in his arms, and he never wanted to let her go, even though he knew he must.

Daisy stirred, her breathing changing as she drifted out of sleep.

Rexx pressed his lips to her hair, closed his eyes, and hardened his heart.

“Hmmm. Where am I?” Her voice was soft and sleepy.

He eased himself away from her, even though it left a cold ache inside him. “You’re in Estelle’s spare room above the vets. Everything’s good. The procedure worked. Atticus got the Inkral tech out of you.”

Daisy’s eyes opened. She stared at the ceiling for a few seconds. “It’s gone?”

“You’re back to your old self.” Rexx went to touch her but stopped. No, she wasn’t his. Not anymore.

She sat up slowly and winced. “Atticus didn’t mention how sore I’d feel afterward.”

“Or that you’d pass out after damn near screaming the place down. I should kill him. I tried.”

Daisy rolled her shoulders carefully. Her hand went to her neck. “We really need to work on your anger issues.”

He went to protest but then shrugged. They both knew he had a problem.

Her fingers brushed across his arm. “Rexx, we did it. We got rid of the Inkral tech.”

He shifted off the bed and paced to the other side of the small bedroom. “It’s good.”

Daisy’s smile faded. “It is. So why aren’t you happy?”

“I am. This is my happy face.”

Her forehead wrinkled, and she slid off the bed and padded over to him on bare feet. “Something’s wrong. Didn’t the procedure go well? Apart from the soreness, I feel great. Better than great.”

Rexx backed away until the wall stopped him from going any farther. “I should leave. You could do with more sleep.”

Daisy pressed her hand in the center of his chest, pinning him in place. “What’s wrong?”

“You’ve been sick.”

“With you. What’s wrong with you?”

“Atticus and Estelle have been good to us.”