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Jackson did not hesitate, but his answering nod was noticeably curt. In light of that, Jasmine kept her hands to herself, but her circling inspection was no less thorough.

“Nice,” she pronounced with approval and then, “How fast does it go?” with a gleam in her eye.

“Don’t even think it,” Keilor growled, taking her by the shoulders and steering her away from temptation. “This is Jackson,” he said, planting her firmly in front of the man she had pushed and ignored in favor of his symbiont. “His symbiont saved your life.”

Rattled at her lack of memory, Jasmine frowned and unthinkingly asked, “Why?” Keilor’s fingers tightened on her shoulders in disbelief.

Jackson’s left eyebrow twitched. “Good manners?” he suggested.

Jasmine put her fingers to her temple and rubbed, as if that might bring back the memory. “I don’t remember,” she muttered. “Just guns and...Rihlia!” She turned as if to run to her friend. “She’s hurt!”