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Prologue

New Year's Eve, one year before

Even though they were in the basement, Denise could still hear the sounds of battle outside She didn't knohat had attacked them, but they couldn't be human, not for Cat to look so scared when she'd ordered thehtened, then they should all be afraid

Crashing noises above htened around her "It'll be okay"

His face said he believed otherwise So did Denise But she s to convince her husband she believed the lie, if only to make him feel better

His ar upstairs to help look for it"

It was the object that had drawn these creatures, whatever they were, to this house in the middle of icy nowhere If it could be found and destroyed, the attack would stop

Five years ago, Denise wouldn't have believed in va supernatural powers Now because she'd chosen to spend the New Year with her half-vae person didn't believe in, she and Randy would probably die

"You can't go up there, it's too dangerous," Denise protested

"I won't go outside, but I can help look in the house"

Denise knew finding it was the only chance any of theo with you"

"Stay here The kids are scared"

Denise looked to the faces huddled in the far corner of the basement room, eyes ith fear Former runaways or homeless kids who lived with the vampires, their rent paid in blood donations The only other adult in the room was Justina, and even her normally imperious expression was tremulous

"I'll stay," Denise said at last "Be careful Coet any closer"

Randy gave her a quick kiss "I will Promise"

"I love you," she called out as he flung open the door

He smiled "Love you, too"

He went out the door and Denise locked it behind him It was the last time she saw Randy alive

Chapter One

"I think Amber was murdered"

Denise gaped at her cousin She ell into her third arita, but she couldn't have one to a bar after the funeral Still, Paul had said he wasn't up to sitting another shiva His mother and sister had just died within aa drink made Paul feel better, who cared what they were supposed to do?

"But the doctors said it was her heart"

"I knohat they said," Paul growled "The police didn't believe me, either But the day before she died, A followed She enty-three, Denise Who has a heart attack at twenty-three?"