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“Sweet.”

I blink.

Mercy is looking at me.

“Were you planning to restore Raven’s hand today or marry the brush?”

“Sorry.”

“Thinking about Bitter?”

“No.”

Junie laughs.

Mercy does not even blink. “Terrible liar.”

“I am trying to have private thoughts.”

“You are having them loudly.”

I bend over Raven’s hand. “Dead people are less invasive.”

“They also pay poorly.”

I smile despite myself.

Then a shadow crosses the doorway.

My body knows him before I turn.

Bitter.

He stops outside the room.

Does not enter.

His eyes move first to Raven, then Mercy, then me.

There is something in his face when he sees my hands working.

Pride.

Not possessive pride. Not look what my woman can do.

Just pride.

That somehow makes it worse.

Or better.

I have stopped knowing.

Mercy glances toward him. “You need something?”

“Hyde wants you when you're done.”

“Tell Hyde I’m working.”