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Moonlight shone in the , ilu swath of Elena’s bed Meredith had tossed and turned for a while, but now Elena could hear her steady breathing It was good that Meredith was sleeping She was exhausting herself: working out constantly, patrol ing every night,sure al her weapons were in prime condition, ith frustration that they weren’t able to find any solid clues as to the kil er’s identity

But it was lonely being the only one awake

Elena stretched her legs under the sheets and flipped over her pil ow to rest her head on the cooler side

Branches tapped against the , and Elena wiggled her shoulders against theto calm her busy mind She wished Bonnie would coain, then again, sharp peremptory raps

Slowly, it dawned on Elena, a little late, that there weren’t any trees whose branches touched that

Heart pounding, she sat up with a gasp

Eyes black as night peered in the , skin as pale as theagain, but then she was out of bed and opening theHe was so quick and graceful that by the time she shut theand turned around, Da back on his elbows and looking total y at ease

"So over at Meredith as she h, was almost affectionate

"That’s not fair," Elena said "She’s exhausted"

"So alert even when she’s exhausted," Damon said pointedly

"Okay, but today is not that day," Elena said "Leave Meredith alone and teldown cross-legged on the bed next to hiive Damon her ful attention

Daers with hers "I haven’t learned anything definite," he said, "but I have suspicions"

"What do you htly with his other hand, feather touches, and she realized he atching her closely, waiting to see if she would object Inwardly, she shrugged a little What did it matter, after al ? Stefan had left her; there was no reason now to push Dairl was stil deeply asleep