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ghost.”
    Nika’s mouth lifted in a knowing smile. “No, he’s used to seeing a ghost and now he’s seeing the real person again.”
    “You’re better,” said Madoc, his voice a reverent whisper.
    “I told you I was. You didn’t listen.”
    Madoc’s hands itched to reach out and slide over her body. He wanted to feel the slender curve of her hip, follow it up to the hollow of her waist, and continue on until her breasts filled his palms.
    Her nipples beaded up, pressing against the thin cotton of her shirt as if she knew what he’d been thinking. Of course, his stare had probably given him away.
    Connal cleared his throat. “I suggest we get moving here. Clearly, you two have things to discuss.”
    “We do,” said Nika. Then she sat down and offered Connal her injured hand, dismissing Madoc.
    The leech took her hand in his. Madoc gritted his teeth and planted his feet on the beige carpet, refusing to move. If he did, he’d draw his blade and use it to slice off Connal’s head for daring to touch her. It didn’t matter that he’d wanted this—that he’d brought Nika here so the Sanguinar could heal her. The only thing that mattered was the fact that another man was touching her.
    After poking her skin for a moment, Connal looked up at Madoc with disgust plain on his face. “You pulled me from my work to deal with this? She’s not even bleeding anymore.”
    “Told you,” said Nika.
    “She was bleeding.”
    Connal rose from the couch. “It was just a scratch. Next time, don’t call me unless someone’s lost a limb. Understand?” He didn’t wait for an answer, but stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him.
    Leaving Nika and Madoc alone.
    The pain inside Madoc’s head had been building all night. Killing those sgath had released some of the pressure, but not nearly enough. He needed to be back out there, killing and fucking so the pain wouldn’t eat him alive.
    “Time to go,” he said.
    “That depends on whether you’re taking me back to the cemetery.”
    “I’m taking you back to Dabyr.”
    She crossed her arms over her chest, which pressed her breasts together, pushing them up toward him as if she were offering them to him.
    Madoc’s mouth watered at the temptation.
    “Why?” she asked. “You know I’ll just leave again as soon as your back is turned.”
    “Joseph will keep a better watch over you this time. I’ll make sure of it.”
    “I’m not a child. I don’t need a babysitter.”
    “Apparently, you do.”
    “Just let me finish digging up those bones and I’ll go back quietly.”
    If he did that, then he’d have to drive her back to the cemetery and spend the rest of the night shoveling dirt when he really needed to be killing something. “You can talk to Andra about that when we get home.”
    “Andra is never home. She’s been chasing missing children in Illinois for the last two weeks. Besides, Andra is not my keeper. I’m an adult. I get to decide what I want to do.”
    “I think you’ve shown just how intelligent your independent decisions are.”
    “I’m doing the right thing.”
    “Fine. Then do it with someone else. I’ve got places to be.”
    “Go, then.”
    “And leave you here alone?”
    “I’ll be fine. There’s a main road not far—I was paying attention on the way here. I’m sure someone will stop and give me a ride.”
    “You want to hitchhike ?”
    She lifted a slim shoulder. “Why not? I’ve never done it before, and after all those years in the hospital, I have a lot of living to catch up on.”
    “That’s it. I’m done with this. I’m having Joseph send someone to come get you.” He pulled his cell phone from his belt and dialed Joseph. Before it could ring even once, Nika shot toward him, grabbed the phone, and raced into the kitchen.
    Madoc was so shocked it took him a second to react. By the time he chased her into the kitchen, she’d already shoved the phone into the garbage disposal and flipped on the switch.
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