Page 173 of Night's Fall

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“This makes me want to quest for my mate,”Gaylesaid.

“You could questSirk, and jump on his big, bear shifter dick,”Catsuggested.

“Shh,”Gayleshushed her. “He’sAleksei’sbest bud, andAlekseihas shifter hearing.”

“I’ve been gladImissed the mayhem at the gallery,”Moniqueput in. “Butthe moreIhear of thisSirk, the moreIwishI’drisked being trampled in order to get a look at this male.”

Suddenly, my beast shifted in my chest, and it made me turn my head toward the stairs.

“Everything okay,Laura?”Moniqueasked me.

I came back to them. “I’msorry.Ineed to?—”

My beast shifted again, and my skin started tingling.

“I need to get to my mate,”Isaid earnestly.

Suddenly sober eyes lit on me, andIloved them even more because none of them had mates, but they still got it.

I received hugs, cheek kisses, and they loaded into the lift.

I waved at them until the door slid closed and thenIhurried to the stairs.

I foundAlekseiat the window in the bedroom, fully clothed even if it was late, and staring at the city lights ofNocturn.

Seeing him like that, instantly,Iwas sober myself.

WhenIentered, his gaze came to me.

I went right to him.

“Have a good night?” he asked, extending an arm.

I walked into that arm, and he curled it around me, pulling my front to his side.

“It was great,”Ireplied and tipped my head. “Areyou all right?”

His eyes moved over my face.

Then he looked back to the window.

No.

He wasn’t all right.

“Honey,”Iwhispered. “Talkto me.”

“I just got a comm from the lead of the task force.Dr.Buildlorehas been found.He’sdead.”

Oh farg.

“Blasted in the face?”Iasked.

He shook his head before looking down at me. “Hehung himself.Thesupposition is, he couldn’t run anymore or feel hunted or both.”

“Did he leave a note?”

“Yes.Heapologized to his fiancée for being a weak male.”

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