Sasha looked up and saw Korgan entering the open stable door and coming toward her. She instinctively stiffened warily. It was the first time she’d seen him since the canyon, though his appearance was not unexpected. “I haven’t seen Gilroy for a couple of days. Things change.” She put aside the bridle she’d been working on, laying it on the bale of hay on which she was sitting. “No one knows that better than you. Because you change them, don’t you?”

“Not if the status quo is satisfactory. I just have a problem with being bored and wanting to tweak it a bit.” He held out his hand. “We’ve never officially met, have we, Sasha? I’m Gabe Korgan, and I hope we’ll become good friends. Though I feel as if I know you very well right now. Alisa has been singing your praises since the first day we met.”

She slowly reached out and shook his hand. She hesitated only an instant before she said bluntly, “Well, I don’t feel as if I know you. I guess I’m supposed to be grateful you’re going to help me get Nightshade, but you don’t have to. I’ll find a way to do it myself. All you have to do is say no.”

He raised his brows. “Anyone would tell you I’m very good at saying no if I want to. When Alisa mentioned Nightshade, I liked the idea for a number of reasons.” He was studying her expression. “But I believe I’m seeing a hint of belligerence that reminds me of Alisa. Why would you think I’d want to back out?”

“Alisa doesn’t talk about you any longer,” she said curtly. “Not since the canyon. Even before all that nightmare happened at St. Eldon’s, she’d sometimes mention something you’d invented or what you’d said at some scientific meeting. I could tell she agreed with you most of the time. And afterward, whenever I’d talk to her on the phone at the stable, I’d hear about Korgan doing this and Korgan doing that, but once I was safe and Jubaldar secure, there was nothing. She just changes the subject. Did you do something bad to hurt her?”

He sighed. “You’re on the attack. I might have waited too long for this meeting. No, I’ve tried never to do anything bad to Alisa, but she’s a difficult woman. She doesn’t accept good intentions unless they come with a written schematic in nine languages. You and Margaret are the only ones she trusts unconditionally.”

She stared him in the eye. “And should she trust you?”

He smiled. “Oh, yes. To hell and back. I’ll always be there for her.”

“Then why is she angry with you now? Alisa is smart and an excellent judge of character. She doesn’t make mistakes.”