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It all had to be connected so-how--I didn’t have a clue Except it was ic and vamps and a Damours witch I didn’t know My duties were done, except the security debriefing To the assembled security personnel, I said, "You averted disaster You did good I’uy who no longer had a full set of teeth "And dental work Gratis"

"Yeah? I want the best dentist in New Orleans I used to be purdy"

Everyone laughed I guess it was hu experience

• • •

When it was over, I foundat the fireplace, s the warer scent of cigar, so expensive left froht Music played over the speakers, sonize and lyrics I didn’t want to hear

Through the binding ofup when he stopped at the desk, our eyes raveyard when the ether in the wind, sounding like desiccated bones clacking The air s flowers, funeral scents, chilled with death

I felt it when Leo took a breath, as the binding between us grew stronger, tighter And I didn’t kno to fight it anyht, Jane Yellowrock," he said softly I said nothing There was nothing to say It had been a play, a gaently, "I did not know about Paka"

And ht in htave way And I gave in to the grief No, no, no, no, no I would not cry Would not

Cool hands caught me, lifted me Carried me to the velvet chaise Lowered er than any I had ever felt, wrapped tightly around ain And here I was Crying Stupid, stupid, stupid

"I am so sorry, my Jane I did not know I truly did not know Even I would not have done such a thing to you"

He rockedrieved for much more than simply the loss of Rick LaFleur

• • •

The hour before dawn found old velvet chaise, side by side,into his face He was asleep Leo Pellissier had fallen asleep, with me in his arms Fully weaponed Able to kill him easily for his abuse of me, had I still wished it Did I still want him true-dead? Did I blame the predator for death, for blood taken? I wasn’t sure anyile, he hadn’t abused my weakness He hadn’t tried to drink or seduce He had just held rieved the loss of a love I never really had I was soconfused Torn Ripped into shreds that lifted in any stray breeze I hated him But as a predator, I understood him And I hated that abouthow this creature of the night could hurt ht, soheads--I never would--but especially I would never understand this vah not breathing, and pale as death His cuone His white shirt was open at the neck, the sleeves rolled up His shoes were gone, his feet encased in thin black socks Long black lashes lay against his cheeks His black hair was loose fro, but more slender More powerful And ainst mine, the temperature of the room

I slipped from his arms and found my shoes I didn’t bother to put them on but picked them up and walked for the door "Jane?"

I looked back at Leo "What is the blood diamond?" he asked softly I didn’t blink, didn’t react, didn’t answer He finally said, "Jack Shoffru ca it was here, in my possession or in the hands of Molly Everhart Trueblood Fro blood with Adrianna he then caht, he came to the determination that she was ht in his eyes and knew that he was reading my faintest reactions "He believes that the diaainst my kind" I didn’t try to hide the truth inthe word like fine brandy "Vengeance served cold Do you still desire to take e, but I heard the distant threat when he said, "Will you use this weapon against ht how to phrase it in the words that an old, old, old vaht understand "No I will not use the blood dia as you and yours do no harm to me and to those I claim I promise onon the blood of my father On the blood of the first man I ever killed"

Leo, the Master of the City of New Orleans, nodded once "Jack Shoffru will not keep his word He will be forsworn He will attack me or those I claim, those I protect Soon You have ain in sleep

Well Wasn’t that just ducky?