These characters belong to the brilliant Karen Marie Moning.

In ICED there was a month in Dublin that was unaccounted for. Dani followed Christian into the Silvers and as we know, time works differently in Faery. When Dani comes back much has changed. In addition to many more sites having been ICED, Jo and Ryodan have started a relationship of sorts. And so I wondered, probably like most of you, how the heck did that happen? Jo had been so strong and feisty in the Fever Series, and seemingly repulsed by Chester's and its enigmatic owner…

If you've read any of my other stories, you know that my brain likes to fill in the gaps.

Big huge thanks to my reading/writing buddy TraderMare who whipped out her red beta pen and fixed this so it would make sense.

Enjoy!

"These people are disgusting." Cassie wrinkled her nose as she swept debris towards the dustpan Jo held.

"Well, they're not exactly people, but yes, they are definitely disgusting." Jo straightened up and dumped her trash in a large bin behind the bar. Taking a moment to wash her hands, she straightened her skirt before picking up her tray and returning to her customers. It was just an excuse to look up to see if he was there. Watching. Waiting.

She exhaled the breath she'd been holding when her none too casual glance revealed he wasn't there. She really needed to get this under control. Just because he'd chosen her the last three nights didn't mean he would again. For all she knew he probably wasn't even in the building.

As if her thoughts conjured him, Ryodan appeared on the landing. Just the sight of him in his impeccably tailored suit, white oxford opened at the neck, made her knees weak. Looking down, he found her, his clear eyes locking on hers. She couldn't look away if she wanted to. Jo waited for what felt like an eternity. Then he nodded at her. Trying hard to hide the smile threatening to take over her entire face, she handed her tray to Cassie and answered his unspoken call.

She entered his office and the door closed smoothly behind her. His back was to her. He had taken off his jacket and she could see the outline of muscles beneath his crisp white shirt. As usual the sleeves were rolled up revealing a silver cuff. He flexed his fingers as they rested low on his hips. Those fingers had done amazing things to her. She wanted to take off all of her clothes and feel them pressed into her flesh. But she waited. He didn't like women who appeared needy or talked a lot. At least that was the impression she had of him. Despite her earlier misgivings regarding him, she had grown to like, no crave, the time they spent together. She wanted to keep his attention for as long as possible. For as long as it lasted.

So she waited.

Without turning around he finally broke the silence. "Dani didn't come to work tonight."

Jo froze. He said it so quietly she wasn't sure she had heard him correctly at first. She tried to swallow but her jaw was clenched so tightly she almost choked. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Lifting her head, she assumed her full height while taking deep, measured breaths.

"Is she alright?" Jo tried to keep her voice from trembling.

"I don't know. No one has seen her." His voice was low and tight.

Jo's heart quickened. It had come down to this. She didn't blame Dani. She would have been here if she could. Something must be wrong. Dani was still upset that she worked here, had traded herself for her. But Jo would do it again in a heartbeat. Especially now that she had this taste of life. Living in the Abbey was killing her, killing them all really. She'd never felt more alive than she had here at Chester's. With Ryodan. Her captor. Her employer. Her lover. And now her enemy. She knew in her head when she signed that contract it would end this way. Her heart and body had other ideas.

"I understand."

Turning around, he looked at her. He tilted his head, his gaze sliding over her as if he was considering her. Perhaps he wanted to fuck me one more time before he killed me.

"I'm going out to look for her. Stay here."

Jo stood there, unable to make eye contact. Her careful control started to falter. Standing straighter, she focused on remaining still and quiet, rooting her feet to the floor. If she could calm her body maybe she could calm her mind. She still couldn't look at him.

He walked past her, brushing her shoulder as he left.

"Can I have someone get you something before I go." He was still speaking softly but there was no longer the same edge to his voice.

That he had offered her kindness nearly undid her.

She bit her lip to stifle the sob threatening to slip out. Tears filled her eyes, ready to spill. It took every ounce of self control not to look at him. Jo couldn't find her voice. He was about to leave. Turning her head slightly to address him, she answered over her shoulder.

"A book."

"A book?"

Jo smiled and finally looked at him. He rarely asked her questions.

She cleared her throat. "Yes, I would like a book."

He nodded. "I'll have someone take you to my library. You can pick out any book you like."

He turned the knob and left. Jo remained standing there; she wasn't sure for how long. She willed herself to calm down. Wiping a stray tear from her left eye, she tried to get her breathing under control. Eventually someone came in and took her by the arm. She had seen this man before, one of Ryodan's men, but didn't know his name. He led her down the hall. Jo did not avert her gaze from where she was going. She had set herself on this path when she first tried to break Dani out of that dungeon. She would see it through to its end.

They stopped. A thick, corded arm came out in front of her as his hand touched an invisible panel on a door. He pushed her roughly into a room. The walls were lined with books. Jo said nothing, wondering if he would speak but he did not. Eventually he left, and she waited until she was sure he wasn't coming back to move about the room. Her eyes looked lovingly over the rows and rows of books. It was her passion, her calling, her gift. She could spend eternity reading. She laughed bitterly realizing that she would only get to choose one last book. She ran her fingers gently over ancient spines. So many choices. She settled on a rather tall but thin one with gold and green inlay dated 1691. It was written in old Manx, a language she had not read since she was a child. It had been one of many languages that her grandmother had taught her after discovering they shared the same love of books.

Jo shivered as she touched the pages. Looking around she noticed a very enticing overstuffed armchair and a soft throw. Settling in she read, trying not to think of how this would end. There was no point. Once he found Dani he would bring her here and kill me while she watched. Jo held the book to her chest and looked out the window. She should have come to Dublin more often. It was a beautiful city, even in its current state. Her eyes glazed over as she thought about all the different times and ways she could have died before now. A lot of people had been lost when the walls fell. Then even more when the Shades came and devoured everything in their path. There were definitely worse ways to go, but she worried that her death would be meaningless. Then she thought of Dani. She, like Mac, was the best of us, the strongest of us. If anyone could forge something out of this new terrifying world, it would be Dani.

"My death will be good. I am dying for something."