The disparity of time made little sense to Nicaise, but no one truly knew what happened in death. He must have been dead for months before this place brought him back. He resisted raising a hand to his neck as though anything would be found there. When he'd been in the children's home he'd stared at his neck for hours, but it was smooth. Not a mark.

"How pleasant," he said quietly, once more at a loss for words.