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He lifted both hands. “Not a claim. Medical relevance.”

Talia relaxed only slightly. “Yes. Unbonded.”

His attention moved to me. “Touch her.”

“No.”

Talia turned to look at me.

Darev’s expression became far too interested. “I said touch her.”

“I heard you.”

“Yes. That was why I found it interesting.”

“I came for medical advice.”

“And I am attempting to gather medical information.”

“You can do that without touching her.”

Darev looked at Talia. “He is usually less difficult when injured.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“You should not.”

I exhaled. “This was a mistake.”

Darev smiled.

There was a time when I had respected that expression.

I remembered why I stopped.

He gestured toward an examination room. “Both of you. Inside.”

Talia looked at me. “Do we obey him?”

“No.”

Darev pointed again. “Inside.”

Talia went.

I followed because apparently she had decided he outranked me.

Darev closed the door and activated a privacy field.

That changed the room. Not visually. Operationally.

No signal in or out.

Good.

He looked at my wrist. “Show me.”

I held it out.