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We were silent as alked slowly down the hall Casper glanced briefly through the other doors, taking in the paintings of Olgha, Alex, and ether, stiff and wooden even considering the kindness of the artist’s brush Mounds of tiny crystal vials rested on every flat surface of the roo My eyes squeezed shut in pain I should have brought a vial and left a tear ofthousands

As if readingto kick that bitch’s ass," he said

"That we are," I answered, squeezing back

32

Our afternoon passed in the sweet haze of stolen indulgence Browsing in shops, strolling down streets lined with tinkling snowdrops, visiting the world’s largest collection of blud creatures in the Muscovy Zoo and laughing at the cahest belfry of the Basilica of Aztarte as I sat in a ,snow I found that I was no longer frightened of heights Afterward, Casper stood in thehi outward over the whole city, and yelled soht hi

Re Verusha’s favorite treat, I stopped at a vendor in the Franchian district and bought a painted box of sugared liver What were a fewht up alked through the door of the groomery

"Ah, darleenk, you remembered!" She snatched the box and popped a sliver into herroom Casper ed him into the last rays of afternoon sun by theShe walked around hi "Tell ed to keep a straight face, and I ed to survive"

Verusha slapped Casper in the ribs, and he stood up straighter She ran his hair through her talons and slid a hand down his arht, saying, "Interesting It’s coes of your hu?" He griroomery

Verusha drew back, one hand to her chest in affront "A Blud you out to the trough with the bludrin I swiped a bit of liver froainst the rich tang of blood

"So I’m just suddenlydifferent to you?" Casper asked His face was guarded, a strange one fro another bit of candy into her ht We should celebrate You are hungry?"

He nodded silently, as if it pained hiently on a shelf and withdreo vials of blood She took doo teacups, poured for us, and served, bowing her head slightly to hireatly to id, on the edge of the sofa He took a sip of blood, tentative and with great concentration, as if every time he tasted it, he was afraid to find it repellent After a few ainst the cushions

"I told you hunger would make you peevish," I said, and he chuckled

"Funny how it loosens you up a little Almost like alcohol but without the fuzziness I feel just as sharp, just not like everything you say is a challenge Much better"

He leaned back, one boot on his knee, savoring his blood as if trying to puzzle out a rare vintage

"I would swear it tastes like butter," he said between sips "How is that possible?"

"Verusha prefers good country stock," I supplied "These Pinkies would have access to fresh dairy and butter, and perhaps that’s what you’re tasting I sense cream and sunshine and freshness Quite round and full-bodied"

Verusha settled back into her pilloith a handful of liver candy perched on her prodigious bosom An easy life indoors, extra vials of country blood, and plenty of sweet it

"Good for the constitution," she said

"And what’s that, in the box?" Casper asked, setting down his e forward to pluck a bit of liver from the box on the table