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Marisa woke inthe silent predawn hours aith Grigori, she had not been able to sleep last night when he sent her up to bed Only with dawn had her eyelids grown heavy, and when sleep finally caori chasing her, his eyes glowing red, his fangs dripping blood Khira had been mixed in there, too, and Edward Once, she had awakened, or thought she had awakened, to find Grigori staring down at her

He had not co her to wonder where he was now that the sun was up

Feeling bleary-eyed and not the least bit rested, she showered, then pulled on a pair of old jeans, a sweatshirt, and a pair of tennis shoes and went downstairs She poured herself a cup of coffee, then stood at the ondering where he was Was he sleeping elsewhere in the house? If not, where would he go?

Carrying her coffee with her, she wandered through the house looking for hi to the kitchen, she refilled her cup, then sat down at the table Where had he gone? What had happened last night to affect him in such a way? Khira what had the vaori before, but last night She shivered with the rabbed a pair of gardening gloves and left the house She needed to be outside, in the sunshine She drew on the gloves, deterside the driveway She&039;d never gotten around to calling a gardener Now she was glad She needed to be busy, needed so to occupy hersince Grigori had seen the daylight? Did he relory of a sunrise?

She thrust the thought frorounds would look once they were landscaped She would have to decide what kinds of flowers and trees she wanted, and where she wanted the someone, she&039;d just do the job herself Heaven knew she had plenty of free tiht Unless Khira drove thehtness of the day She would not think of that noould not let Khira ruin as a lovely day She wandered through the yard, pausing now and then to i She could buy soht-iron bench under the big old oak tree on the east side of the house, plant some flower beds on either side of the porch and under the front s

Itjasmine She hit her forehead with the heel of her hand What was she thinking? That was Khira&039;s scent Honeysuckle would do just as well

She stood in the sun, gazing around the yard Where was he? Last night was the first night he had not shared their bed She hadwith him beside her Damn it, where was he?

She checked her watch Almost four Hours yet until he would rise froone? Khira the vah her one to stay with Khira Still, they had once been lovers

She shook the thought froain Khira had made him what he was There was a bond between the two of them that could not be broken - a bond she would never be able to break, one she would never be able to share

Until you becoht froh, she decided she would start weeding near the street and work her way back up the driveway When she reached the house, she would reward herself with a root-beer float

When she reached the front gate, she was surprised to find it open Grigori always locked it She was about to close it when a sudden shiver ran down her spine Turning, she gasped as she came face to face with a man she had never seen before

"Excuse ave ray eyes "You will conized him for what he was instantly She took a step backward, chilled by the empty look in his eyes Whoever the er his own Soulless, mindless, a creature made by a vaori&039;s first wife, Antoinette, into such a creature When Raori joined forces to hunt Kristov, the ancient vaori To rescue her froht her all the way across, given her the Dark Gift But Antoinette could not endure being a vaori to release her, but it had been Ramsey who had laid her soul to rest

The creature took a step forward, his ary arguing Instead, she turned and ran for the house

Grigori! Grigori! Help me!

She screamed the words in her mind, screamed in terror as the revenant tackled her froainst the driveway

She lashed out at hi, but it was no use He was oblivious to her blows He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to her feet; then, lifting her into his arate