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Grigori took a step back, resisting the urge to wipe his cheek "Of course"

Khira took his aro in?"

There was no way to refuse

Marisa whirled around as the front door opened and the woman she had seen on the street entered the rooori This close, the valoith a pale opalescence; her eyes were the bluest blue Marisa had ever seen Her figure was perfect

"I a her hand

"Marisa"

Khira&039;s hand was soft, her skin warm to the touch Warm as only a well-fed vaori," Khira said Her gaze ran over Marisa, coolly assessing "Really lovely"

"I think so" Grigori moved to Marisa&039;s side and draped his aresture of possession and protection

Khira sori" She glanced around the roo peasants "The decor suits her"

"I&039;d appreciate it if you wouldn&039;t talk about me like I&039;m not here," Marisa said

"I am sorry," Khira said "I did not mean to offend you, Marisa May I call you Marisa?"

"Of course" Marisa looked at Grigori "Why don&039;t we sit down?"

Grigori nodded "Khira, please lide across the roorace, al above the floor She sat on the love seat beside the fireplace, the heraceful folds at her feet

Marisa sat down on the sofa, and Grigori sat beside her

Silence hung heavy in the rooori to Marisa and back again, "tellyou have been ori asked

Khira shrugged It was an elegant gesture "I ca you ed after so many years" She smiled faintly "To see America I have heard soawhile But noant to hear all about you About both of you"

Grigori glanced at Marisa She atching him, her eyes filled with love and trust Did she have any idea of the power of the wo across from them? Now that Kristov had been destroyed, Khira was, as far as he knew, the oldest, ori told Khira, succinctly, of Kristov and Ramsey and all that had transpired between the quietly, her body still as only a vaori&039;s face

"And so," Khira , "you had your revenge on Alexi at last"

Grigori nodded There was an unwritten law that vampyre did not kill vampyre He had broken that lahen he killed Alexi

"I would do it again," he said, his gaze hed softly "I do not fault you for what you have done How could I? Did I not bestow the Dark Gift upon you for that very purpose?" She stood up and walked slowly around the rooracefully across the back of a chair, over the satin finish of an antique oak table "You ori frowned at her "What do you mean?"

"He is uneasy in his er, yet he despises himself for what he has become He wishes for death, yet he craves blood, and the life it gives him Do not underestimate him, mi amourHe is powerful More powerful than he should be, for one so young Unless he learns to accept what he is, he ori shook his head "I don&039;t think so"

"He is a hunter by nature," Khira re those he considered evil Now he has becoori nodded "He must work it out for himself"

"I hope so If he does not well, he is a Ramsey, after all Youa hunter across"

Grigori frowned, troubled by the thinly veiled threat he heard in Khira&039;s voice "He will find a way to live hat he has becoori "How did you learn to accept being a valanced at Khira, as standing in front of the fireplace A wave of her hand, and a blaze sprang to life He looked back at Marisa "I wanted it"

"He is one of the lucky ones," Khira re death They do not realize that death co as he survives"

Marisa shivered at the ie Khira&039;s words evoked There was a tiori&039;s life, but now she wasn&039;t so sure Had she really thought it through? Was she prepared for all the drastic changes it would make in her life? It would mean no more vacations with her fa walks except at night Was she ready to give up the pleasures of food and drink, of dark chocolate mousse and root-beer floats, for a warori&039;s ar She read the knowledge in his eyes

"What about you?" Marisa said, speaking to Khira "Did you want to be a vaain "I fell in love when I was very young I did not knohat he was Like all young girls who fall in love for the first time, I told hiht he showed ht me across" Hatred flared in the depths of her eyes "I killed hiori as Khira&039;s hatred flooded the roo and then slowly receded

"Later, I was sorry for what I had done," Khira went on "Being a vained And even though the little death that carew used to it in time" A faint smile played over her lips "And now, so many years later, the little death has little power over me I wish now that I had not killed him"

"If it was your choice, would you accept the Dark Gift again?" Marisa asked

"Perhaps I have done much Seen much Loved much And yet" She lifted one pale hand and let it fall "I have lost , to watch those you love wither and die, and I have seen it h the centuries And children never to have a child"

Khira shook her head, as if to dispel unpleasant o and find a place to pass the day"

"You are welcoori said "We have plenty of empty rooms"

"I appreciate your offer, mi amour , but I must decline" Khira rose effortlessly to her feet and floated across the floor She smiled faintly as she took Marisa&039;s hand in hers "It was a pleasure to ain"

Marisa nodded "Yes, perhaps," she replied But she was thinking of what Khira had said Never to have a childShe felt a deep, piercing stab of regret In ht to bear children

Khira sood care of her"

"I will" He brushed a careless kiss across Khira&039;s cheek, wondering if her warning had been real or iht, but her voice echoed loud and clear in his erous Be wary of him