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"Our curse is different froain from the elvish curse--and curses are what made us all" Pain shadowed Leo’s face

Elves? Crap There are elves? Andweres His words claimed that weres were real

"No," he said He stood, fluid and sinuous, raceful than a dancer "You ask too much" He looked around the rooe, I’m ready to leave"

Bruiser rose fro on the wood floor, and crossed the roo lea softly as he held it Leo Pellissier unrolled his shirtsleeves and shrugged the jacket on "Have the car brought around," he said

George flipped open a cell phone and punched a button A moment later, he said, "Car," and flipped the phone closed Succinct, was our Bruiser

Leo looked at ht as I lay on the couch, unconcerned by the disparity in our positions, knowing, without understanding why, that I was safe, though my soft underbelly was exposed to his dominant position, his claws and teeth Leo’s eyes burned into , as if he would cut through the layers of my soul and uncover the secrets at the heart of me

He said, "I heard drums S beside you? But it didn’t kill you" In a see non sequitur, he said, "They say you were raised by wolves"

I let a shtly to the side as he studied me As he considered whatever it was that he had picked up from my memory "The cat It wasn’t you"

He was getting close Beast stirred, uneasy I let my smile widen, as if I found his statement even funnier than the news accounts that I was raised by wolves "No," I said "It wasn’t me" It was my father It was a ave it back "Thank you," I said again, offering no enlighten us A" He paused, his gaze turning inward, far away, as if caught still in my memories Or his own? He seemed to shake himself"A duty to those who serve us"

"I work for you," I said, feeling a bit s, "for a price" I eased , half-reclining angle "I’I want to do anyway, it seehed, real hu the skin at his eyes "Pert Rude"

I acknowledged the accusations with a nod

"In that case," he said, "I aer "I wish you to attend a soiree toht" He held up a hand at the derision and denial that spurted up from inside me "Most of the vampires in the city will be there It will be a rare opportunity for you to see thee numbers"

I watched his face, and if he had ulteriorthe invitation, I couldn’t spot them "I own exactly one little black dress One"

"I’m certain it will be fine," he said without expression "Wear your hair down No one will notice the dress"

I laughed, sputtering with surprise