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When I got inside, I showered off fully clothed, hung up the wet things, and re-dressed in vaood look at the rogue va The vamp that didn’t stink had been painted on a nized hi in the oire, blood- in Europe

When I left the house,over my back, the Benelli still loaded with the hand-packed silver-fléchette rounds I carried a selection of silver crosses in my belt, which would be hidden under my leather jacket when I zipped it up, and stakes in loops at hs I hooked the chain-mail collar over the necklace of panther claws and bones, the gold nugget necklace well secured If I had to change again tonight, I wanted all the help I could get Studded leather gloves protected s Vahs My hair was tightly braided in a long plait, close to my head and tucked under a skullcap No vaht Into pockets went extras: extra crosses, a vial of baptisainst va to try it--a ca five times while I dressed, all the calls fro The last thing I grabbed was the wooden box of Molly’s witchy tricks froerprints, proof that no one had touched the box through the obfuscation spell on it I unlatched it and studied the charms: petrified wood disks hand-carved in bas-relief, scenes of the cross with a dead Jesus on them I dropped theainst , it was Molly’s nu out the door "It’s the ?"

"You opened the spell box," she said I thought about that for a span of heartbeats Before I could reply, she added, "Be careful" And hung up

I chuckled "I’ll do that" I kick-started the bike and took off I o blocks away, the bike roaring beneath hts flashing, but sirens silent I had gotten away just in tiloves off, even at fiftyIt ith unspent rain, heavy with fog, the artificial breeze I created as I rode ser, trickles running intothe silk shirt againstwith every movement under the vest I was so hot I was pretty sure I was ainstitchiness As I sweated and drove, I dialed Jodi

"Richoux," she answered "Where the hell are you, Yellowrock?"

"Out and about How’s Rick?"

"Dying," she said, the single word brutal

I felt a chill settle onthe sweat that smeared my skin I remeer "How bad?"

"They flew hiiven him four units of blood and most of that is on the floor Where the fuck are you?"

I slowed and wheeled the bike off the road Caine Into the phone I said, "I’ help Tell the docs"

"Tell them what?"

I hit END and speed-dialed another number Bruiser didn’t answer Leo, the head of the vamp council of New Orleans, picked up his own phone "Jane"

I said, "I need a favor"

"And what do you trade for this favor?"

Beast growled Leo, hearing the sound, chuckled I thought fast I had only one thing the blood-master of the city wanted Crap "You still want a taste ofthat Leo could hear it too

"I want to drink of you in every way," Leo Pellissier said, his voice dropping into spellbind tiht to ed to say, "No way But" I took a breath, not quite sure what I was pro "I need a favor And I’ll trade a blood meal for it if I have to"