CHAPTER 31

“You don’t think it’s that simple, do you?” Graham had recovered his confidence. “Maybe there is a secret entrance. It’s not going to be on the blueprints labeled ‘Frankenstein’s Lab.’”

Willow never even glanced up. “Good thing I’m smart enough not to be looking for that.”

Biting back a laugh at the sarcasm in that comment, Buffy tried asking, “How are you going to find the entrance then?”

Impatient green eyes peered over the computer screen. “First, I actually have to have time to look for the information.”

“Sorry.” With a grimace, Buffy dropped onto a chair and watched her girlfriend type madly. That didn’t help. She couldn’t tell what Willow was doing. Scooting closer, she rested her chin on Willow’s shoulder. Much, much better. Buffy still didn’t have a clue what Willow was doing, but the contact and the light floral perfume Willow wore got rid of the lingering aggression from earlier.

***

Willow sighed soundlessly when Buffy leaned against her. Expecting a new barrage of questions when Buffy couldn’t understand the code she was entering, Willow was surprised at the silence. Sparing a glance from the screen, she grinned. Buffy looked almost asleep. Eyes partially closed, breathing slow and even, Buffy simply drifted.

Taking advantage of the quiet moment, Willow went back to work.

Eventually, the gang resumed talking. No one, however, interrupted her. Ignoring the ebb and flow of voices and the clatter of plates from lunch, Willow kept her focus on finding a way into the Initiative’s files. She’d done it once. She could do it again.

Her concentration was so complete, Willow jumped when Buffy spoke softly into her ear, “Hey, I think you need to take a break.”

“What?” Sitting back from the screen, Willow groaned. Goddess, she was stiff. “A break? I just got started. See?” She pointed at the time on the computer. “I’ve only been working…” Breaking off, she stared at the little numbers.

“Two hours, Will,” Buffy finished for her. “Come on. Stand up, stretch, get something to eat.”

No. She couldn’t take a break. “I still haven’t found a way in, Buffy. Unless we go back to the elevator idea, I need to keep working.” Willow rolled her head before glaring determinedly at the screen. “It’s there. I know it is.” No way was she letting Buffy go after Adam without a solid plan.

Warm hands gripped her shoulders, kneading the tight muscles.

“That feels so good,” Willow moaned. Her eyes slid closed, and her head fell back onto Buffy.

“I’m multitalented.” Buffy kissed her cheek. “I can save the world in the morning and get rid of all those nasty knots in your back in the afternoon.”

Zoning out, Willow let herself relax into Buffy’s hands. That’s when the quiet in the kitchen caught her attention. “Where is everyone?”

Buffy’s hands tightened at the question before going back to their massage. “Faith and Tara are still…bonding.”

Willow sensed her continued unease at that.

“Mom and Graham went on a grocery run. Everyone else is napping, I think.” She pressed another kiss to Willow’s cheek. “I don’t understand why no one else enjoys Willow Watching the way I do.”

Grinning faintly at the mock confusion in Buffy’s voice, Willow slowly sat back up. “If they did, sweetie, we’d have to worry.” She tilted her head, resting her cheek on the hands still on her shoulders. “I got in once, Buffy. I just need to find the right algorithm to break the encryption.”

“OK.” It was clear Buffy had no idea what she’d just said.

As she tried yet another algorithm, Willow searched for a simple explanation. “It’s like…it’s like doing a Rubik’s Cube. Only, I don’t have to get six faces of the same color. I have to find a pattern in the colors that fits in with the pattern that’s already there.”

Buffy’s hands moved, her thumbs beginning a slow stroking motion up and down Willows’s neck. “And that breaks in? Like finding the password?”

“Yes.” Not really. It was just easier than trying to get more technical. “Once I get into the system, all I have to do is surf around until I find the blueprints.” Willow nearly rolled her eyes at the oversimplification. She’d just compared breaking into Top Secret government computer files to a game cube.

The screen flashed.

“Damn,” Willow griped.

“Still no good?” Buffy pressed closer.

The feel of Buffy against her helped only marginally with the frustration. “No. I’ve tried everything I can think of, Buffy. Every trick, every algorithm. Nothing’s working.” Clenching her hands over the keypad, Willow wanted to scream.

The screen flashed again, and a series of beeps sounded.

Willow leaned in, watching the sudden activity on the laptop. The algorithm she’d tried disappeared in a wave of pixilation “Buffy,” she said intently, “get Giles and Xander.”

***

Faith chuckled at the question. “Fuck, yeah. More fun.” Her nipples ached from Tara’s attentions. She gripped the blonde’s wrists gently, holding them still. She had to make sure, give Tara one last out.

She never got the chance. “Faith, look at me,” Tara insisted.

When Faith met Tara’s blue eyes, she saw Tara’s choice.

“Feel inside, sweetie. Feel the Slayer. Feel our bond.” The words were soft, beguiling. Faith followed Tara’s directions, letting the gentle voice pull her awareness toward the pulsing spot where the Slayer purred and stretched. “Look. I’m right there, too.”

Faith smiled. No glowing vision of Tara showed up; that didn’t mean the other girl wasn’t there. A bright blue glow pulsed just behind the Slayer’s flaming copper ball. As she watched, the light spread, wrapping around the Slayer and dimming the flaring energy.

See? I’m right here. This time, the voice was more feeling than sound.

Blinking, Faith lost hold of the inner vision. Riding a wave of pure emotion, she kissed Tara. There were no questions anymore.

***

Stroking Faith’s sweat-damp hair, Tara smiled softly. “See, this was lots better than meditating.”

“You’re crazy, Blondie.” Brown eyes peered up at her.

“Then we fit together pretty well, don’t we?” Chuckling as the brown eyes rolled and a pair of dimples appeared, Tara levered herself into a seated position, back against the headboard. More seriously, she asked, “Are you good with what we did?”

Tara held her breath as Faith considered that. “I don’t know about good, Blondie. I don’t like feeling you got the raw end of the deal. I mean… you didn’t get the full Faith the Dark Slayer story.” Faith’s eyes dulled, all the laughter gone.

Reacting instinctively, Tara smacked her shoulder. “Stop that.”

“Ow! What the fuck was that for?” Faith’s lower lip protruded provocatively.

“For the ‘poor, pitiful me’ routine. In case you missed it, she’s gone.” Tara relaxed her militant stance long enough to bend and kiss the spot she’d smacked. “She’s not coming back, either, sweetie. I promise.”

Faith wasn’t ready to give up that quickly. “You can’t know that, Tara.”

Ah…her full name. Tara went back to stroking Faith’s back. “Yes, I can. Remember what I showed you before? Now that we’re completely bonded, I can help you control the Slayer.”

“Yeah. OK.” Faith moved away and climbed out of the bed.

Tara watched her dress, her expression closed off and sullen. Well, she hadn’t expected miracles. “Did you want to see if the gang figured out how to kill Adam?” she asked, knowing Faith’s commitment to her Calling. They’d finish the other conversation later.

Grimacing, Faith nodded. “Guess we have to go out sometime.” Hands deep in her pockets, she spun and stared at the door. “First person that laughs, I’m gonna do a little damage.”

“I may not have spent a lot of time with the gang, sweetie, but even I know they won’t laugh.” Tara got up and dressed, too. “Xander might ask for details or offer to take some pictures, though.”

CHAPTER 32

“I don’t think you have to worry about anyone laughing,” Tara commented, voice trembling with laughter. She scanned the living room and the bodies sprawled on the floor and furniture.

Faith’s shoulders relaxed slightly. “Might go deaf from the snores, though. Giles sounds like the fucking train I rode in from Boston.”

Grinning, Tara lightly touched Faith’s arm. “Let’s let sleeping Watchers lie, sweetie.” Tara kept her voice light and joking in an attempt to keep Faith calm. “Maybe the rest of the gang is in the kitchen.” She felt the muscles under her fingers tauten. Sliding her palm down to Faith’s hand, Tara linked their fingers and dragged her reluctant companion across the room.

The moment the kitchen door opened, she knew their timing had been good. Buffy and Willow huddled around Willow’s laptop, an audience of only two. “Any luck?” she asked softly. She ignored the way Faith stood as far behind her as their joined hands allowed.

***

Willow stifled a scream and spun around. “Tara! How long…are you…?”

She blushed when Tara grinned crookedly at her staccato speech. “We just got here, Willow, and we’re fine.” Pulling Faith along like a caboose, Tara moved closer and perched on a bar stool. “Were you able to find anymore information on Adam?”

Staring at Tara’s fingers curled around Faith’s, Willow shook her head. “Nothing new,” she answered faintly. “Did everything....go OK on your end?” Her voice squeaked on the final word. Were they bonded? Willow couldn’t quite force herself to ask what they really needed to know.

“You mean, did me and Blondie fuck like you wanted?” Faith’s bitter words exploded through the room. “If you want details, Red, you’re out of luck. I may be a whore, but I don’t kiss and tell.”

Before Willow could respond, Tara did. Her head dropped forward in a familiar gesture. “D-don’t, Faith. Willow di-didn’t m-mean it like that.” She peered up at Willow through a waterfall of hair. “Sh-she just n-needed to know if we com-completed the b-bond.”

The stutter was worse than Willow had heard in a while. Cursing the whole situation, she leaned against Buffy and held her hands up in surrender. “Yeah, I’m-“

“Shut up, Red,” Faith interrupted. She let go of Tara’s hand, moving until she stood between them, protectively shielding Tara with her body. “I’ll take care of this, T. You just sit back and relax.”

Eyes narrowing, Willow watched Faith carefully.

“What do you need to know?” Faith asked, most of the aggression gone from her voice.

Willow gripped Buffy’s hands tightly. “Did you complete the bond?”

Faith’s lips pressed together, and she took a step forward.

“Did you sleep together?” Willow clarified in a rush.

Behind Faith, Willow saw Tara huddle further in on herself; although, she thought she saw a very thoughtful look on Tara’s face before the other girl tilted her head down. “Faith, l-let me han-handle this.”

Half turning, Faith glanced at Tara’s hunched form. She reached out, gently tucking some hair behind Tara’s ear.

Willow did a little turning of her own, shooting Buffy a wide-eyed glance. “Is that Faith?” she asked soundlessly.

Shocked hazel eyes met hers as Buffy shrugged.

“Yeah, Red. We did the deed.” Willow spun back around at Faith’s soft answer. Faith’s arms were wrapped tightly around her stomach. “That’s what you wanted, right?” She appeared to be waiting for something.

Leg bouncing nervously, Willow nodded. “Yes. That’s,” she coughed to clear her tight throat, “that’s what we wanted.” Her face burned, and she couldn’t quite meet Faith’s probing brown eyes. “I mean, it’s what we needed. We didn’t want you and Tara to sleep together. That would be…that’s…”

“I get the picture, Red.” The bitter edge was back in Faith’s voice.

Willow glanced up quickly. Faith was glaring at the floor. Should she apologize? Willow didn’t want to set Faith off again, even though she felt bad about pushing Faith and Tara into bed together.

Bad became worse in seconds at Faith’s words. “I ain’t good enough for T. You don’t have to tell me that, Red.” Faith raised her head, and Willow’s chest ached at the self-loathing expression on her face. “T’s a trouper, though. We’re all ready to beat Adam now.”

***

From her position behind Willow, Buffy listened to the exchange. They had to get past this. What they’d done…pimping out Faith and Tara…it had a purpose. Ignoring the nausea crawling through her stomach, Buffy focused on that thought. Whatever it took, they had to beat Adam. “Will found something in the computer,” she said, breaking the silent standoff between her girlfriend and Faith. “A secret way in, maybe.”

It wasn’t enough. Faith and Willow remained frozen.

“In fact,” Buffy continued, slowly climbing out of her chair, “I was on my way to get Giles and the gang. Wasn’t I, Will?” She poked a finger into Willow’s shoulder.

She relaxed slightly when Willow’s head nodded, and her girlfriend said dazedly, “Yes.” Then Willow seemed to shake herself. “Yes,” she repeated in a louder voice. “I found the entrance to Professor Walsh’s secret lab.

Buffy winced when Willow’s fingers suddenly dug into her arm.

“Hurry, Buffy. Get Giles. We need to talk about what to do next.” The fingers tightened more, steering Buffy through the kitchen to the door.

Taking the not so subtle hint, Buffy stepped through the door and made her way to the couch where Giles lay curled up, clutching a faded pillow. “Hey, Giles,” she said softly, reaching over the back to lightly touch his arm.

Giles jerked violently at the contact. Sitting up in one smooth movement, he stared wildly around the room. “What? What?”

His actions woke Xander and Anya. Two groans sounded in concert from the armchair across the room.

“Wake up, guys.” Buffy ignored the chorus of yawns and grumbles. “Willow wants us all in the kitchen for a strategy session. She found us a way in.” She smiled grimly. “Faith and Tara completed their bond. We’re ready as soon as we have a plan.”

Giles rolled off the couch, combing a hand through his rumpled hair. “Excellent. Are the girls…” His words trailed off, and he coughed in discomfort.

“Just a hint…to everyone,” Buffy said, looking directly at Xander, “don’t say anything about how the bond happened. Faith is a little touchy.” That was an understatement, but Buffy didn’t want to make an issue of an already difficult situation. “Let’s just leave it at: the bond is there and move on.”

Buffy turned toward the kitchen and stopped after only a step. The back door had just opened and closed.

“Is something wrong, my dear?” Giles moved up beside her.

There weren’t any sounds of distress from the kitchen. “I don’t think so,” Buffy answered slowly. “I think Mom and Graham may have gotten back.” Just in case, she grabbed a heavy candlestick from a bookcase on her way to the kitchen door.

***

Faith watched Buffy leave the room and then looked at Willow. Their ‘moment’ was over. Willow was back at the keyboard. Over her shoulder, Faith saw images flowing across the screen.

“I told you no one would laugh,” Tara whispered softly.

Looking down, Faith smiled slightly. “Couldn’t resist the ‘I told you so,’ huh, T?” She hopped up onto the stool next to Tara. “Xander ain’t here yet. I still got a chance to be right.” Although, she really didn’t think he’d be laughing. Fantasizing was more likely.

Tara shook her head. “We’re getting ready to plan the attack. He’ll be too busy accessing his soldier memories.”

“Anya, then?” Faith made one more try.

A blonde eyebrow shot up, and Tara giggled.

The sound had Faith grinning. “OK. You’re right. She’ll probably want to give us pointers or join in.” Leaning her elbows on the counter behind her, Faith waited impatiently for Buffy to come back. She was more than ready to get out of the safe house and go after Adam.

“Anya does have a lot of experience, you know.” Tara bumped her shoulder. “If we asked, she and Xander might do a clinic for us.”

Faith’s head whipped around. “What the fuck?” Tara had been big with the blushing and stuttering a few minutes ago. Now she was talking sex without a hint of embarrassment. “Blondie, you wouldn’t-“ She broke off as the back door opened.

“Could you ladies give us a hand? I think I bought out the entire store.” Joyce disappeared as quickly as she’d arrived.

“Come on, Faith, let’s go.” Tara took her hand and started for the door.

Buffy nearly knocked her over, barreling through the door, candlestick clutched in her right hand.

Faith pulled Tara closer, gripping her shoulders and keeping her from falling. “Watch what the fuck you’re doing, B.” Keeping a stabilizing hand on Tara’s back, she continued toward the back door. “Your mom’s here with food. Put down the candlestick, Colonel Mustard, and do something useful.”

***

With everyone pitching in, the groceries were out of the car and on the counters in no time. Joyce began unpacking while the rest of the group got down to business.

“I found the entrance to the lab,” Willow told them excitedly. “It’s in the caves on the edge of campus.” She pressed her finger against the computer screen, tracing a tiny corridor on the schematics. “It’s hard to tell from the Initiative blueprints, but…I’m pretty sure this area here is the lab.”

Graham disagreed. “I’ve been there. These are offices, mostly scientists and a few of the lower-level officers.” He leaned over her shoulder and pointed. “There’s nothing past that point.”

“Really?” Willow turned on him, angry at his doubt. “Then explain why you need air ducts and electrical conduits? Do they pump air and electricity to solid rock?”

She waited for him to answer. Seeming confused, Graham looked at the blueprint again. “I…I don’t know. Are you sure they don’t go somewhere else? One of the labs or offices?”

Buffy gripped Willow’s shoulder before she could respond. “If you’re right, Willow, we can sneak in through those caves and take Adam by surprise.”

Letting Buffy take the lead, Willow listened to her girlfriend start planning. “Graham, will any of the Initiative troops help us out? We may be able to get in; I’d feel better, though, if we could maybe distract Adam with some activity at the other entrances. Have some of your guys try to get in via the elevator and make a big production of moving the rocks at the sewer entrance.”

Graham nodded. “I think so. Me and Ry served with some of the unit on a few other assignments. It won’t be many, though. Eight…nine at most.”

“Go.” Willow nearly giggled at the commanding tone Buffy used.

It worked well on Graham. He jumped up immediately.

“I don’t want to risk bringing them here, Graham,” Buffy continued. “Get them ready and hit the base at nine in the morning.”

“In the morning?” Willow tapped Buffy on the shoulder. “During the day? Someone might see.”

“Which is why Adam won’t be expecting that,” Buffy explained. “I want as much of an-“

“I hate to burst your bubble, B,” Faith interrupted. “Tomorrow won’t work.”

Willow beat Buffy to the punch. “Why? Do you have somewhere more important to be?”

She could see the muscles in Faith’s jaw flex as the other girl clenched her teeth. “No, Red. I don’t.” Faith smirked. “If you hadn’t been so hot to get me and T into bed, I coulda told you what I found out on my tour of the college.”

Faith paused. This time, Willow was the one grinding her teeth. “And just what was it you found out?”

“Nothing much.” Willow doubted the truth of Faith’s words as her smirk grew. “Just that the Marines are about to blow up those caves you want to use.”

CHAPTER 33

“Blow up?” Willow stared at Faith. “That’s a joke, right? Very funny.” She forced a tinkling laugh.

No one else joined in.

“Oh, Goddess.” Sinking back into her chair, Willow rubbed tired eyes.

“Before we lose ourselves in panic and despair,” Giles commented dryly, “perhaps we should let Faith tell the rest of her story.” He gestured at Faith. “What, exactly, did Agent Finn tell you?”

***

Faith hadn’t imagined her moment of glory quite like this. In her head, this moment was more about rushing in to save the day. With swords or stakes. Definitely not explanations. “Uh…” Looking around the room, she realized everyone except Willow was watching her.

“J-just take it sl-slow, sweetie.” Tara rubbed a hand over her thigh.

“Right.” Slow. Faith sucked in a deep breath and tried to remember the argument between Riley and the older man. “B’s boy didn’t actually tell me anything. I ran into him when I was on campus. He was having a fight with some grey-haired guy.”

Faith was so focused on the memory, she twitched in surprise when Graham asked, “About my height, short hair, nasty temper?”

“Sounds right.” Faith looked at him and raised her hands, palm out. “I wasn’t really looking.”

He grimaced and waved a hand for her to go on.

Her leg started bouncing, and Faith decided she was sparring with Buffy the second this planning session was over. She really needed to beat on something. Buffy would have to do. “Anyway, they got real intense over blowing up the caves. The old guy said they didn’t want to leave the equipment or something for the college kids to find.”

“That’s S.O.P,” Graham said.

Now he was the center of attention.

“Standard Operating Procedure.” He smiled tightly. “We don’t leave expensive and potentially dangerous materials behind. We either evac it, or we destroy it.”

“See, now that’s the problem.” Faith pointed a finger at him. “That got Riley all wound up. He thought the caves might get destroyed with the equipment.”

The rustle of Joyce bundling up the empty grocery bags was deafening.

“You were much better when you were in a coma.” Anya’s irritated voice sliced through the sounds of the plastic. “At least then you could not bring us bad news.”

Faith froze. Was she supposed to laugh? Or was Xander’s girlfriend serious?

“Better we know now than after we had already made our plans.” Faith relaxed when Giles gave her a half-smile of encouragement. “It seems, however, that our tentative strategy needs some work. Suggestions?” He looked at Xander and Graham.

***

“We could stick with the current plan, and move up the timetable,” Xander replied thoughtfully. “Daylight might have given us the element of surprise, but we might get lucky and hit before Adam’s ready for us.”

Graham disagreed. “If we move now, rather than later, I can’t get to my men. It would just be the nine of us.” He scanned the room. “I don’t like those odds.”

Buffy didn’t, either. However, it was a better chance than they usually had when things went wrong. “It doesn’t matter,” she said slowly. Her mind moved sluggishly, examining all the information. “We have to get Adam.” Biting her lip, she added, “And Riley. The demons in the holding cells are for later, if we get a chance.”

“Buffy?” Tara peered at her through her hair. “The b-bombs will take care of the de-demons, right?”

“I guess so.” Buffy wasn’t sure where Tara was headed. She looked at the military experts. “If the caves go boom, won’t the demons go, too?”

Xander nodded. “Yep. No need for stakes and blood. Just C4 and an ignition switch.”

“Then we stop worrying about the actual base.” Tara’s voice picked up confidence. “Adam is still keyed into my magic. What if we draw him away from the base – from his Plan? We take him out while Graham and the Marines make sure the demons don’t get loose before the explosion.”

Before Buffy could really take in Tara’s idea, Faith bolted off her stool. She spun, grabbing Tara roughly by the arms. “No! No way!”

Buffy climbed carefully from her chair. The Slayer rumbled a soft warning, alert and ready if Faith lost control.

“You’re out of your fucking mind if you think I’m letting you be some kind of bait for the Tin Man.” There was an edge to Faith’s voice Buffy had never heard before. Not bravado. Not the Slayer needing to be in charge.

Dear God. Faith sounded scared…for Tara.

“Faith,” she said softly. “We’d all be there to protect her.” Buffy blindly reached out for Willow’s hand and gripped it tightly.

“I said no, B.” Faith’s head snapped around. Her eyes were dark and intense.

Staring hard into those eyes, Buffy couldn’t see the Slayer. This was just Faith. For now.

Extending her hand toward Faith, Buffy tried again. “I understand.”

Faith’s eyes hardened further.

“I do. If it was Willow…” she let the words trail off and swallowed hard. “If it was Willow, I’d be trying to find a way to chain her up. Keep her safe.”

Faith’s head dipped in a short nod. “Then you know we ain’t doing it this way.”

“If it was Willow,” Buffy continued, feeling Willow’s fingers squeeze hers, “there wouldn’t be a chain strong enough to hold her if she knew she could help.”

“B…” Faith pleaded. Buffy could see the fear in her eyes. “We can’t…It’s Tara.”

There was no way out of this. Buffy knew it, and she knew Faith understood that, tooe, even if she didn’t want it to be true. “I know.” The quiet, almost-apology would have to be enough. They were running out of time.

***

“Why don’t you guys w-work out the details?” Tara asked, looking directly at Buffy. Faith was poised in front of her, tense, on edge, and ready to explode. She needed to make sure that didn’t happen. “Faith and I will be in the living room when you’re ready.”

She could tell Buffy wasn’t thrilled with that idea. Her lips pressed together, and Tara sensed the refusal.

“Please.” What else could she do? Tara slid from her seat and stepped around Faith. As she did, she took both of Faith’s hands, drawing the other girl’s arms around her own stomach. “Come on, sweetie. Let’s go talk.”

They had to maneuver around Buffy’s still form on the way to the door, but they made it. The door swung closed behind them.

“It ain’t happening, T.” Faith yanked away, stalking past her and pacing frantically across the room.

Tara watched her for a few minutes, considering her options. She could try the same technique she’d used in the kitchen. However, Faith’s protective streak was working against her this time. She had to get Faith focused on the fight and on her job as a Slayer.

No handling this time, just honesty.

“Yes, it is,” Tara responded. “It has to, Faith.”

Even expecting a response, she took a small step back when Faith whipped around to glare at her.

Fighting the need to cross her arms protectively and hunch forward, Tara raised her head and glared back. “This isn’t about me or you, Faith. This is about killing Evil.” She enunciated the last sentence. “You’re the Slayer.”

“B’s the Slayer,” Faith denied immediately.

Tara bit back a scream of frustration. “Faith,” she forced out as softly as possible, “a Slayer or The Slayer…it doesn’t matter. Your job…Buffy’s job, too, is to kill Evil. Right now, that means Adam and whatever else the professor created.”

She saw Faith’s head nod in agreement. Willing or not, Faith understood her job.

“Using me is the only way to get Adam out into the open.” Tara walked forward. “It’s dangerous.” She took Faith’s unresisting hand. “That’s why you, Buffy, and Willow will be there with me.”

“I still don’t like it,” Faith mumbled.

Tara raised their joined hands, pressing a soft kiss to Faith’s knuckles. “You don’t have to like it, sweetie. You just have to do it.”

Faith’s callused fingers rubbed against hers. “We won’t let him hurt you.”

Eyebrows rising, Tara peered at Faith in surprise. “Sweetie?” She felt a sudden pull at the rough, near growl in Faith’s voice.

The warm copper tinge to Faith’s eyes reached out to her, too.

“I…” Faith faltered, appearing confused for a second. Then the frown wrinkling her brow smoothed. “We will keep you safe. We promise.”

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