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  “Right, let me see what I can do for you?” she said, tacking on a question at the end of her instruction. She glanced around as if scanning the large living area of the suite for a suitable treatment space.

  Allegra glanced at Max raising her eyebrows. He, in turn, tipped his head toward the double doors to the bedroom. She hid a smile at his concerned expression and said, “Come, Laelia. Privacy is definitely in order. I don’t think the team is in the mood for a strip show.”

  She swallowed her laughter at the sound of Flavius choking on his cola.

  Inside the room, Allegra seated herself on the edge of the bed, and began to unbutton her shirt. Corina had been generous enough to provide Allegra with something to wear, and not wanting to be rude, Allegra had graciously accepted.

  Now, as she attempted to take it off, she knew the seer wouldn’t be getting her shirt back in one piece. Allegra was going to have to replace Corina’s shirt once they returned to the States.

  As she lifted the fabric she winced at the pull of the fibers on coagulated blood. The shirt, soaked with blood now congealed, wouldn’t budge. The wounds had stopped bleeding, but tugging at them to extract the shirt was going to rip the clots from the skin.

  When the healer gasped softly, Allegra understood why.

  She’d studied the lacerations herself when she’d attempted her own first aid. The result of the whipping wasn’t pretty. Probably one of the reasons the Ancient Romans had loved to use the cat o’nine tails.

  She supposed she should be grateful they hadn’t used whips tipped with hooks. It wasn’t hard to imagine a man, bones lashed bare of flesh at the mercy of those whips. It was positively barbaric.

  Right now, Laelia was staring at the long strips of skin, removed with each lash, revealing red, raw flesh beneath. Allegra was sure that she would bear the scars of the torture the rest of her life.

  “Hera bless my heart. They did this to you?” whispered Laelia under her breath.

  A few moments later she pulled herself free from the horror of Allegra’s ruined back and took a harsh breath. She straightened and said, “Hold still while I separate the fabric from the wound. It won’t be painless, I’m so sorry.” She paused and Allegra gave her an encouraging smile. Laelia smiled. “Then I’ll clean the wound. I’d rather clean it up properly before I attempt to fix this mess.”

  She sounded so firm, so sure of herself that Allegra was happy to just let her take over.

  She nodded, and remained as still as possible as the healer probed and cleaned. The pain existed only on the surface now, unlike the searing bone-deep intensity she’d experienced during her torture. She gritted her teeth and endured, until the healer pronounced she was done.

  Allegra sighed, still a little afraid to breathe, but Laelia patted her lightly on her upper arm. “Now, this part won’t be so bad at all. You should feel only a warm sensation. Unfortunately, I don’t think I will be able to get rid of all the scars.” She sounded more frustrated than disappointed.

  Allegra wondered what Laelia had meant by 'getting rid of the scars', but she didn’t ask any questions.

  She’d heard of healers like Laelia, but had never met one until today. There weren’t too many of them in existence. It was rumored that, depending on their skill level, they could close wounds so well that not a single scar remained.

  While the healer worked, Allegra’s mind wandered. Where did they go from here? Was the high priest still on the hunt for her? He’d certainly been determined enough to abduct her and kill Ignacio and whoever else had been caught in the crossfire.

  Allegra hadn’t had time to think about him until now. She was the reason Ignacio was dead. And she was helpless to do anything about it.

  The high priest had shown her how passionate he was about ending her life. But why? What was it that fueled his need to kill Allegra specifically? And why the sacrifice of innocent lives to achieve this end?

  When Laelia tapped Allegra on her shoulder she was so deep in her thoughts that she flinched. The healer held her shoulder gently and gave it a light pat. The touch was comforting, a gentle encouragement that everything was okay.

  Allegra smiled and turned around. “Thank you, Laelia.”

  The healer nodded and smiled. “I think I've done a pretty good job. If I do say so myself.” Her grin widened.

  Allegra got to her feet and walked over to the mirror, curious to see the healer’s achievement. Turning around, she twisted her neck to look over her shoulder. And stared at the reflection of her back, frozen in shock.

  “How in Apollo's name did you manage to do that?” she whispered, more to herself than the healer.

  Allegra's mouth hung open as she stared at what was supposed to have been her ruined back. She’d expected ropy scars, twisted flesh. Or at least bright red bruised lines.

  The gory, open wounds were all gone, skin smooth, knitted together neatly, leaving only a collection of fine silvery lines intertwining with each other like a white tattoo.

  Allegra turned and threw her arms around Laelia's shoulders. “Thank you. Thank you so much. I’m not sure how I'm ever going to be able to repay you.” She couldn’t stop smiling.

  Laelia shook her head and smiled kindly at Allegra. There was a certain reverence in her expression that made Allegra feel a little uncomfortable, but she stopped herself from revealing it in her expression.

  The healer patted Allegra's forearm. “There is no such thing as repayment. I am merely doing my job. And for you, Allegra, I would do anything.”

  As cryptic as Laelia's words were, Allegra was not in any frame of mind to try and figure it out. Whatever the healer had done to Allegra's wounds, it seemed to be taking its toll on her body.

  Allegra's eyelids were heavy, drooping from the inexplicable fatigue that had taken hold of her. Damned if she didn't need a nap like a little baby.

  Laelia grabbed Allegra's shirt from the bed and handed it to her. "It’s probably best you get some sleep. I’ve only healed the surface of your body. What lies beneath needs much more time. Take care that you don’t bump yourself, or do anything physically violent. There is a possibility that the wounds may reopen."

  She was a little human whirlwind as she returned to her bag and began to pack her things away. She wrapped all the bloodied bandages into a ball and dumped them into the trash can in the bathroom.

  All done, she smiled at Allegra. "If you should happen to open them up, I don't mind coming back to fix it, but bear in mind if the wounds do reopen, the resulting scar won't be as clean as this."

  Allegra nodded, and thanked the healer profusely as the two women walked out of the room. Laelia took her leave, leaving Allegra with firm instructions to rest.

  As Allegra closed the door, she turned to see Max watching her closely. He was sitting beside the window at a small writing table, eyes red from lack of sleep, hair mussed, his giant phone in his palm.

  She didn’t say anything. But the fatigue in her face must have given her away because Max strode up to her, his expression determined.

  He said, "She’s right, you know. You really do need to get some sleep. Why don’t you go and have a nap and we’ll see about something to eat? Service here isn’t all that fast so it’s probably going to take another hour and a half before we see the order.”

  Allegra hid her smile at the surprised look her gave her when she merely nodded and headed for the bedroom.

  A glance over her shoulder confirmed he was still staring at her.

  Only his gaze was firmly on her ass.

  Chapter 42

  A few hours later Allegra woke to the sound of a soft knock on her bedroom door. Rubbing her eyes, she propped herself up on her elbow. She pushed her hair from her face and covered a yawn as the door opened.

  Max poked his head inside. “Sleep well?”

  Allegra nodded and gave him a smile as she suppressed a second yawn. “Yeah. I was out like a light.”

  Max’s eyes traveled down Allegra’s body and settled
on her very bare thigh. She’d taken off her pants before jumping into bed, having never been able to sleep with too many clothes on. Now she realized a little too late that her lower extremities were on show.

  Max grinned, staring unapologetically at her legs. “Laelia called and said you would need a few hours at least. Good thing too. We were planning on giving you only an hour.”

  As he spoke, Allegra reached for her pants and slid into them. Flashing her red silk panties - courtesy of Xenia’s packing - at him had been completely unavoidable.

  Not that he looked too upset about it.

  Allegra began to make the bed, glad that she no longer felt the pinch of tearing skin when she bent over. “Did I miss the food?” Her stomach growled on cue as she fluffed up the pillows.

  “Nope. We delayed the order.”

  “Oh?” Allegra straightened and stared at him. “Hope you didn’t starve yourselves on my account.”

  Max shook his head and opened the door wider as Allegra approached. “I just need to use the bathroom. I’ll be right there.”

  Max nodded and headed back to the team leaving Allegra to change into a blue ankle-length dress that was entirely inappropriate for such clandestine activities.

  Trust Xenia to make such strange fashion choices.

  She used the facilities, washed her face and dabbed on a light smattering of makeup. After brushing her hair and piling it on top of her head into something that resembled a bird’s nest, Allegra left the room.

  As she exited the bedroom the team began to applaud. Muted claps as they all got to their feet, a mark of respect and celebration. She blushed and smiled as she drew closer to the table, praying this wasn’t going to be a commonplace thing.

  She needed some normalcy, even if it meant forcing people to be casual with her against their will.

  For now, she evaded their eyes and scanned the table. They’d ordered a variety of foods, and Allegra recognized their efforts with a grateful smile.

  She grinned. “I hope you all don’t mind, but I’m about to embarrass myself and feed my face like a Neanderthal.”

  Everyone laughed. “You deserve to eat however you want, Allegra. You’ve been through enough.” Corina smiled as she reached for a helping of a meat pie.

  The combination of food on the table was odd, scrambled eggs and bacon, pies, pastries, roast beef and vegetables. “Looks like you guys covered breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

  Max laughed. “We’ve been so mixed up with meals that we figured we may as well tick all the boxes.”

  Amidst lots of laughter and chatting, Allegra and the team served themselves and ate their fill. Despite the smiles and the banter, the room was filled with a dark tension. Allegra soon felt strained, but she maintained a calm facade.

  At least, until Max took her dessert plate from her. She’d eaten the chocolate cherry trifle without even tasting it. Cream and chocolate, cherries and brandy, and yet none of the flavors had satisfied her.

  Not surprising, considering what she’d been through.

  Max left the plate on the table and sat beside Allegra on the loveseat near the window. “How are you feeling?” he asked softly.

  She smiled and sighed. “I’m hanging on by a thread.”

  “I’m not surprised. This is hard on you.” An observation.

  Or a criticism?

  “Because I’m not strong enough to handle it?” she asked. She may have sounded defensive but she really wasn’t.

  “Because this is all so new to you.”

  Allegra smiled. “You are so tactful.”

  “Nothing tactful about it, Allegra. I’ve been right here at your side since you discovered who you are. It’s obvious to me, and to my team, that you are doing the best that you can. And not a single one of us think that you are weak.”

  “How strong was I when Ignacio was murdered inches away from me?” Allegra got to her feet and shoved the curtain aside, heading out onto the narrow balcony.

  Max followed her, standing beside her in silence for a moment as she swallowed hard against the tears threatening to overcome her.

  Max rubbed her back. “That was not your fault.”

  She glared at him. “If he hadn’t been watching me, he’d be alive right now.”

  “That’s not necessarily true. Ignacio was a Dark Ops specialist. He would have likely chosen another op that would have been just as dangerous. That was his job, Allegra. He preferred the danger. And he was especially honored to protect you.”

  Allegra shook her head. “What’s the point of being honored when it ends with you being dead?”

  Max shook his head and squeezed her shoulders. “Don’t do this to yourself. A lot of people are going to die. Whether it’s to protect you, or me, or themselves. The coming months are going to be unpredictable, Allegra. Yet every life we lose will count for something if we somehow make it out alive.”

  Allegra nodded, turning toward Max’s chest without thinking. “It’s just so hard,” she whispered.

  Max reached for her and gathered her into his arms. He stroked her hair and said softly, “I know. But you’re a strong woman. And you have me. You have us.”

  Allegra glanced up, her face inches from his. Her lips so close to his that all it took was for Max to tip his head, just so.

  Their lips met in an explosion of heat, fire racing through Allegra’s veins, filling her with emotion as well as an inexplicable passion.

  She’d never felt this way about a man before, this thrilling, all-consuming heat that filled her core and her heart with equal intensity.

  Max kissed her hard, and Allegra kissed him back just as fiercely. Tongues dueled, hands roamed, and Allegra pressed her body against Max’s length.

  Allegra took a shuddering breath and backed away, her fingers touching her swollen lips. Max didn’t remove his arm, and Allegra allowed it to rest around her waist. “What are we doing, Max?” she whispered as she stared out at the city skyline. “We don’t have time for this.”

  Max smiled and gave her a squeeze. “You are right. We don’t have time. But we can make time.” He waited until she looked up at him. “If we wanted to, we could make the time. Our days are numbered and if we don’t prevent the pandemic we are doomed.”

  Allegra laughed. “You sound like Xenia.”

  Max chuckled. “We’d better get back inside before those two come looking for us.”

  Allegra nodded and Max let his arm drop as they headed back inside. Flavius and Corina were lounging in front of the television both looking like they’d just eaten a Solstice Dinner.

  They’d earned the respite.

  The high priest, hopefully, had no idea where she was, Allegra was healing well and they’d have to wait until tomorrow to obtain a flight home.

  Allegra sat with them as they watched a horror movie; something about a corpse brought back to life by a bolt of lightning.

  As she watched, sitting on the sofa beside Corina and Flavius, she wondered how many days they had left to enjoy such banal things as movies and sumptuous dinners.

  Chapter 43

  The next morning the team was up early to pack, and enjoying a breakfast of scrambled eggs, smoked fish and a spiced rice dish when a knock on the door drew their attention. They watched, tense and wary as Max went to open the door.

  Allegra wasn’t surprised when he ushered a pair of policemen into the room. The two men stood just inside the doorway, studying them like specimens in glass jars. The taller man was portly, with a stomach worthy of the best German beer drinker. Both bore the red shoulder swag and rose badge of the Anglian Police Corps.

  Both also wore the same dour, bland expressions that made Allegra want to wiggle her fingers in front of their faces to check if there were lights on inside.

  “Inspector Franck,” said the taller man, waving his badge at them. “This is Inspector Bainbridge.” He stuck a thumb in his partner’s direction.

  “Franck. Bainbridge.” Max acknowledged while the rest of the tea
m watched in silence. “How can we help you?”

  Franck gave Max a haughty smile, lifting his head so high that Allegra could see straight up his nose to the gray strands that populated both orifices. “We’re here to collect Citizen Damascus’s statement regarding her alleged kidnapping.” He managed to sound accusatory and when he looked at Allegra, she got the feeling he really didn’t want to be there.

  Was it the interview he was averse to, or was it Allegra in particular?

  Despite her misgivings, she smiled and got to her feet, responding to Corina’s wary glare with a soft comforting smile. “I’m happy to give you that statement, Inspector.” Allegra waved a hand at the writing desk near the balcony and Franck accompanied her, studying her from head to toe out the side of his eye. He had the dismissive look of a man filled with prejudice and Allegra wondered if it was her citizenship or her power that offended his sensibilities.

  He settled his bulk in the seat while Bainbridge questioned Max and the team. Franck flipped open a small notebook and brought forth a badly bitten pencil not longer than his forefinger. “So, can you tell me in your own words what happened?”

  Allegra raised her eyebrows. Whose words was he expecting her to use?

  She took a breath and outlined the events of the last few days, beginning with her abduction in Barbarina Town, her incarceration in the hotel-room cell, the ritual sacrifice of the little boy and her torture.

  Max had taken photos of the damage done to her back and Allegra told him they were happy to send them copies.

  Franck nodded, seemingly unaffected by her dramatic story.

  “Commander,” Franck glanced at Max, “you saw fit to travel halfway around the world to rescue Citizen Damascus. I’m curious as to her importance to FAPA.”

  Max’s lips thinned. “Damascus is a new recruit. A seer that has . . . potential.” Max glanced at Allegra but she merely watched Franck. Max continued. “Seeing as she is a FAPA agent, we were . . . obligated to retrieve her.”

  Franck lifted his head and dropped it in a slow, condescending nod.