The tent was beginning to dim around her. She was only aware of his face and the intensity of those glittering silver eyes gazing down at her. “Everything is always your…way. But you couldn’t stop Masenak from taking her. I think I…hate you.” Her voice sounded blurred even to her. “If she dies…I’ll kill you, Korgan.”

“I know that, too.” His lips twisted. “Either way there will be punishment in my future. Now let yourself go so that I can get you on that helicopter. The sooner I get you to that hospital, the sooner you’ll be able to go after me with knives drawn.” He paused. “But while you’re planning my demise, it might comfort you to go to sleep remembering how strong your Sasha is and how she’s stayed alive all this time. There’s no reason why she won’t be able to hold on until we take the bastard out.”

He was right, she thought dazedly. Sasha would never give up, and Masenak had wanted her alive from the time he’d taken her from that stable. It was only panic that had made Alisa forget that in this moment. But Korgan had not forgotten, and he’d given her this lifeline to hold on to when the darkness came.

And then the darkness was there…

*  *  *

University Hospital
Geneva, Switzerland
Three Days Later

Sasha!

Alisa’s eyes flew open and she sat up straight in bed.

Pain! Ignore it. She had to get to Sasha.

“Lie still.” Korgan’s hands were pushing her down. “You can’t go anywhere yet. You’ve been out for three days, and if you don’t keep quiet, I’ll have to ask those doctors to put you under again. You’ll hurt yourself if you—Shit!” He grabbed the fist with which she’d just struck his mouth and pinned it to the bed. “Correction. You’ll hurt me if you continue to fight,” he said grimly. “And that’s not going to happen until you’re able to do it with a clear head. So just lie there and I’ll let you stay awake and you might get some answers. Deal?”

She shook her head dazedly. “Sasha…” Something was terribly wrong…She had to gather her thoughts and try to remember.

Korgan’s tent at base camp.

Korgan looking down at her and telling her that even if Sasha was lost, he’d find her.

Masenak!

“You’re tensing up,” Korgan said. “But I don’t think you’re ready to sock me again. I believe you might be ready to listen.”

“Only if you tell me that you know Sasha is still alive,” she said shakily. “That’s the only thing that matters.”