“Oh, yeah. We figure he must be some rich kid with a need to do some good. The darnedest thing is, whenever he comes, the kids become perfectly calm and serene. Their blood pressure goes down and we never have to give them any painkillers while he’s here. After he leaves, they sleep comfortably for hours. And best of all, the cancer patients go into remission for several weeks afterward. I don’t know what it is about that young man, but he really makes a difference in their lives.”

Gallagher could understand that. Even though Ash could be terrifying, there was something oddly comforting about the Atlantean.

The instant Ash realized he was there, he saw the veil come down over the man’s face. The humor faded, and Ash stiffened noticeably. Ash became the grim, take-no-prisoners leader that Gallagher was well-versed with.

As soon as the song was finished, Ash handed his guitar off to one of the older children and excused himself. He stood up and left the room with a loose long-limbed, predatorial gait. Ash’s face was impassable as he crossed his arms over his chest and approached Gallagher.

“St. Ash—who knew?”

Ash ignored his comment. “What are you doing here?”

Gallagher shrugged. “I was just passing through.”

He cocked his head. “Passing through? Last time I checked, Chicago was north of Baton Rouge, not south.”

“I know. But since I was so close, I just wanted to stop in at Sanctuary and wish everyone a Merry Christmas.”

Ash listened to Gallagher’s thoughts and let the man’s emotions wash through him. Jamie’s wife had died of old age this past summer, and her death had hit the Irishman hard.

As soon as he’d “heard” about her death, Ash had gone to Jamie immediately only to find out that Jamie had broken his Code of Conduct and visited her while she’d been in the hospital. Ash had chosen to overlook the breach. He might not have ever known the love of a human being, but he did understand those who were lucky enough to have it.

“Tell you what, since you’re here, why don’t you just stay on until after the New Year?”

Jamie scoffed at that. “I don’t need your pity.”

“It’s not pity. It’s an order. Since Kyrian is retired, Talon could use an extra hand. Things get rather rowdy this time of year. Lots of Daimons head down south where it’s warmer and people are out for New Year’s.”

“Are you full of crap or what?”

Before Ash could answer, the elf woman came out of the room holding a young toddler to her hip.

“Akri?” she said to Ash in a strange sing-song kind of voice. “Can I keep him?” She patted the plump leg that was exposed from beneath the hospital gown. “See, he good eating. Lots of fat on this one.”

The dark-headed toddler laughed.