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May 5, 1843

He was alive!

Beltran Varik stepped onto the eed in a deep breath of some rather wretched air, but that didn’t matter Because he was alive

He’d died, which hadn’t been at all what he’d expected Not that he was sure what dying was supposed to be like

But noalking down the street with two of his brothers and his surrogate father, all of them alive in a manner that scientifically confused him

The world seeer and sharper than it had been when he’d been huht, the scents so much clearer It was as if his senses had been honed to a razor’s edge Did this make him a predator now?

If only he’d known this would happen—he would have taken more measurements of his human senses so he could make more accurate comparisons now

Rafe’s low, alhts He turned to find his twin leaning on a brick wall, one foot braced against it, looking for all the world a dandy enjoying a night on the town But that was Rafe Always scouting for a bit of entertainment

“I know that look, dear Bel,” Rafe et back to your study to start entering all your observations into your little journal”

“Of course Things feel so different now I neednotes while I can remember what it was to be human”

Rafe winced and waved at Bel to keep his voice down as he pushed away from the wall “Bloody hell, you need to watch what you say while we’re out”

“Yes, I knoas just excited, and I forgotin his cheeks

Rafe stood next to Bel and wrapped an ar him in close It was a relief to see that Rafe’s color was utted Bel when he realized he’d attacked his twin shortly after waking as a va reborn, he would have been sure that he’d never harm any of his brothers no matter what

“You must be careful, dear brother”

“Yes, of course Are you sure you’re feeling better, though?”