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First things first &uot away safely I couldn’t concentrate on helpingabout my sister and nephew Once they were free of Steve’s influence, safe somewhere he couldn’t find them, I could focus on business entirely Until that time I would only be a distracted liability

Annie didn’t want to go This was her ho her about some of the atrocities Steve had committed over the years, I convinced her they had to leave, she insisted I go with them

For years she’d believed I was dead Now she knew otherwise, she didn’t want to lose hed "Not while er Later, when it’s over, I’ll find you"

"Not if Steve kills you!" Annie cried I had no answer for that one "What about Darius?" she pressed "You said he needs training What will he do without you?"

"Give us your mobile nuo to the stadiuet in touch A vauide him to Vampire Mountain, where Seba or Vanez can look after him"

"Who?" she asked

"Old friends," I s he’ll ever need to know about being a va me my place ith her and Darius, that I was her brother before I became a va I left the human world behind when I became a Vampire Prince I still cared for Annie and loved her, but my first loyalty was to the clan

When she realized she couldn’t win me round, Annie bundled Darius into the back of their car &uather sos I told her to take as much as she could, and not to come back If we defeated Steve, she and Darius could return If not, somebody would fetch the rest of her stuff The house would have to be sold, and they’d re under the protection of the va after them (I didn’t say "Until the clan falls," but that’s what I was thinking) It wouldn’t be an ideal life &u up in the hands of Steve Leopard

Annie huggedinto the car "It’s not fair," she wept "There’s so much you haven’t told me, so much I want to know, soaway tears It was a weird feeling Everything was happening at ten times the speed it should It had only been a few hours since we returned to the Cirque Du Freak to chat with Mr Tall, but it felt like weeks had passed His death, the chase, Morgan Jahtered by Steve, finding out about Darius, co to see my sister I wanted to put my foot down on the brake, take ti on But life makes its own rules and sets its own pace Sometimes you can rein it in and slow it down ¨C other times you can’t

"You really can’t come with us?" Annie tried one last time

"No," I said "I want to but no"

"Then I wish you all the luck in the world, Darren," sheelse, then broke down in tears Hurling herself into the car, she checked on Darius, then started the engine and roared away, disappearing into the night, leavingoutside ht?" Alice asked, creeping up behindtears frooodbye to Darius"

"It’s not goodbye," Alice said "Just au revoir !"

"Hopefully," I sighed, though I didn’t really believe it Win or lose, I had a sick feeling in ht was the last time I’d ever see Annie and Darius I paused a moment to wish them a silent farewell, then turned around, put theies centre on the probleers faced by my friends at the Cirque Du Freak