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Too sleepy for most vampires, but Tane preferred the peace A bitter smile twisted his lips And most vampires preferred him to remain in his self-imposed isolation

Feere comfortable in the presence of a Charon

Not that Tane allowed their prejudice to bother hiue vaed

Would never change

Almost as if to mock his assurance he was alone in the darkness, Tane stiffened and tested the late spring air What the hell? There were vamps in the area

Not that he was afraid He possessed a greater power than h he refused to endure the trials necessary to claih to annoy their Anasso Styx would be severely pissed off to discover one of his precious Charons had been killed

But he’d left Laylah alone and helpless in the tunnels

He’d be das, or anything else, in her

With a blinding speed he was entering the nearest faringhah to deter than the hu hound who had knocked over the trash and was happily chewing on a bone, before entering the house and pillaging the refrigerator, tossing a nu he found underneath the sink He added inas silently as he had arrived

Like the Grinch

Only with fangs

With equal speed he returned to the tunnels and to the cave where he had left Laylah E he followed her trail, easily finding her in the adjoining cave For a minute he watched in disbelief as she crawled toward the entrance to the tunnels on her hands and knees, her entire body drenched in sweat

"Da forward, he leaned down and snatched her into his arainst his chest as he retraced his steps "What are you doing?"

Sheweakness

"Looking for a portal to Narnia" She futilely attele from his arms "Where are they when you need one?"

"Stop it," he snapped, his eyes narrowing as they rested on the sluggishly healing cut on her forehead She obviously had sround in her ridiculous bid for freedom "You hurt yourself"

"It’s your fault," she ic"

She narrowed her gaze as he gently lowered her back onto the ground andTane drew in theto dilute the potent scent of her fresh blood

His entire body was clenched with a clawing hunger As if it had been centuries and not mere days since he’d had sex

What was it about this fe about her turned him on From the ridiculous spiky hair to the tips of her dust-covered toes And all those tasty spots in between

"I suppose you think you know all about wo at her side with a sh to make them scream for more"

"Just kill uise the rapid flutter of her pulse He wasn’t alone in the powerful awareness A da since he intended to have her naked and beneath hi was said and done "A swift decapitation would be preferable to listening to your gloating"

His lips twitched Trapped and weary and obviously terrified she still was spitting like a cornered kitten

Plucking one of the containers fro, he opened it to discover what sredients "Eat," he corasp, using her fingers to scoop the casserole into herconveniently near her, not wanting to distract her fro the milk and then the water, she cleaned out two more containers of food before she at last lifted her head to regard him with suspicion

"Where did it corowl as she unconsciously licked her fingers clean "Does it matter?"

Her breath hitched as she easily sensed his savage pang of need "Stop looking at s throbbed in te of her heart "Like what?"

"Like you’re wondering if I’o to considerable trouble to bring you dinner," he husked, his gaze lingering on the vulnerable curve of her neck "Fair is fair"

With a sudden shove she was on her feet, danger sparkling in her nificent eyes

"If you want ht me for it"

Tane lifted a brow She recovered quickly Already he could detect a color returning to her cheeks and her tre had ceased

Still, he kneould take little effort to knock her flat on her back A position that he wanted her in with a desperation that was , but not until she was fully recovered

"Sit down and finish your food" He shrugged "I fed before I left Hannibal"

She grudgingly sat back down and reached for the chocolate cake

"I hope they gave you indigestion"

"Actually she was a tastyrain to wrap around hier to offer more than dinner"

"Feel free to rush back and finish your meal and whatever else you want Take your ti to her lower lip "In fact, take an eternity"

Unable to resist te off her lip before returning to snare a kiss of pure, unrestrained desire