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In a single instant her eyes bled red, pupils ide and black, and her fangs snapped down She leaped I dodged under her ju to the far wall, where I held out the weapons The cross was for the vas fully extended Her claere bone white and two inches long Troll had pulled a gun A big gun Men and their pissing contests Crap Why couldn’t they ever just let un?

"Predator," she hissed "In er pheromones filled the air, bitter as ood

"I’m not human," I said, my voice steady "That’s what you s heart rate, which I kneould drive her further over the edge; I’ical factors always kick in So loith a cold white light, and Katie, if that was her original na, whichGood

"Katie?" Troll asked

"I’ your Troll here, to bleed all over your rugs, but I will"

"Troll?" Katie asked Her body froze with that inhu, or whatever else it is they do when they aren’t hunting, eating, or killing Her shoulders dropped and her fangs clicked back into the roof of her o vampy at the same time They’re two distinct parts of them, one part still hu, but then this was the first so-called civilized vamp I’d ever met All the others I’d had personal contact ere sick, twisted killers And then dead Really dead

Troll’s eyes narrowed behind the 45 ai couy in a children’s fairy tale I was better at fighting, but negotiation seeed it a bit "Or I’ll take you down and he’ll never get a shot off" Unless he noticed that I had set the safety on his gun when I tripped Then I’d have to shoot hiot an eye shot Chest hits wouldn’t even slow him down In fact they’d likely just make him mad

When neither attacked, I said, "I’m not here to stake you I’m Jane Yellowrock, here to interview for a job, to take out a rogue vamp that your own council declared an outlaw But I don’t smell human, so I take precautions One cross, one stake, one two-shot derringer" The word "stake" didn’t elude her Or him He’d missed three weapons No Christmas bonus for Troll

"What are you?" she asked

"You tellthe day and I’ll tell you what I aree to do business Or I can leave"

Telling the location of a lair--where a vamp sleeps--is information for lovers, dearest friends, or fahs that her kind can give, low and erotic, like vocal sex My Beast purred She liked the sound

"Are you offering to benonhuman felowing cross, and said, "You are interesting Tall, slender, young" She leaned in and breathed inWhat are you?" she pressed, her voice heavy with fascination Her eyes had gone back to their natural color, a sort of grayish hazel, but blood blush still marred her cheeks so I knew she was still prion that tone they use to enthrall, a deep vibration that see scent Likely tasty Perhaps your blood would be worth the trade Would you come to my bed if I offered?"

"No," I said No inflection inNothing to tick off the vauest so to drink"

I didn’t wait for Tommy Troll to lower his weapon; I dropped mine Beast wasn’t happy, but she understood I was the intruder in Katie’s territory While I couldn’t show subun and his attitude at the same time and holstered the weapon as he moved into the room toward a well-stocked bar

"Tom?" I said "Uncheck your safety" He stopped ainst you in the hallway"

"Couldn’t happen," he said