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In the negative column, Web wouldn’t easily let the source of his million-dollar industry flee out the door Web was a powerful Master vaht other Master vauards The best way to ensure they got Nathanial out alive was a quick, brutal attack Daould see blood spilled; of that, Spade had no doubt

Which hy he had sent Denise half an hour ago to the docks She’d wanted to go with the her presence was necessary because she was the only one who knehat Nathanial looked like Spade countered that should there be rab him, too, but it made no sense for Denise to storm the house just to make an identification He didn’t want to scare her by stressing how dangerous this was for the vauarded hoht have fortified his house with booby traps So have Denise, still et hiht to soothe her by saying he’d need her to man the escape boat they’d rendezvous to, but Denise saw through the lie, because she’d turned away in frustration Selfishly, Spade hoped this was another reason Denise would welco a vampire did have some drawbacks, but those were vastly overshadowed by the benefits, in his opinion

"Fabian’s presence will be priceless for searches and warnings, but if things get dicey, Cat, that new pyrokinesis power of yours will be quite useful, too," Spade said, strapping on a final knife

She grimaced "Yeah, about thatI don’t have it anyo, you exploded an entire house and a Master va that ability’s gone?"

Cat looked at her hands and sighed "Because I was a half-breed before changing over, Fate thought it was funny to make me feed off vampire blood instead of human blood I absorb power from undead blood whenever I drink - and sometimes, that means any special powers the vampire has, too Kinda like normal vampires absorb life from human blood when they drink But just as vaularly to sustain the life in the from vampires fades with ti froood for now is throwing knives Or doubling as sparklers"

Spade digested that "If that’s not coht still be able to use it to our advantage The threat of you being pyrokinetic h to sway er"

"You want et dicey?" she asked in disbelief

He shrugged "If we’re in that ?"

Crispin snorted grimly "Let’s hope we don’t find ourselves in that lanced at the clock Almost three AM It was time

"Remember, the human has to be taken alive," he said Then his voice hardened "But everyone else can die"

Denise gru, and another vampire named Lyceum reached the Fontvieille pier How stupid did Spade think she was? Oh sure, he was counting on her to have the boat at the proper coordinates of the Mediterranean That hy he’d sent two other va remarked conversationally

"How stupid does he think I am?" Denise blurted, out loud this time "Oh sure, I’m so necessary here Except for the part where I don’t even kno to drive a boat!"

Lyceuh "I don’t knohat they’re doing, cheri, and if Spade didn’t tell erous You didn’t really expect hi you? You’re a huht have said with the word moron Denise’s fists clenched Vampire elitis

"Huot out "And you don’t leave your only witness behind when you’re looking for the perpetrator"

"You do if there"Especially since it’s you"

Denise glanced at him with curiosity and annoyance Was she considered extra helpless as a hu as in her blood? "Why especiallyreplied

"So true," Lyceu another language "Who or what is Giselda?"

The two vaed a look that stopped Denise in her tracks "Don’t you even think of holding back, or I’llI’ll tell Spade you let ed," she added for good measure

Cries of "Mon Dieu!" and "That’s not fair!" echoed immediately from the two vampires

"I’m a crazy human female, you know I’ll do it," Denise warned the her that this was iht her up You tell her"

So "Giselda was Spade’s lover during the Franco-Prussian war He intended to marry her, except she was still human You have to be a va over"

Lyceu nod Denise didn’t need it translated to guess it was soatory about Giselda’s choice

"And?" she pro up her spine

"Spade was called away by his sire to assist in some dispute He didn’t take Giselda in case war broke out between his sire and the other Master She was to stay in her chateau But weeks later, when Spade sent word that all ell and he’d be returning soon, Giselda decided to go to hier ahead to announce her arrival"

Bootleg cast a sideways glance at Denise that made her want to smack hie had a mishap or it was attacked, I don’t knohich I do know Giselda was gang-raped by a group of French deserters - either before or after they killed her," Bootleg su for her when she didn’t arrive at the tie described He found her body in the woods"

Denise felt ill even as several things clicked into place Why did you have to kill hi over the body of her attacker in the parking lot Because of what he intended to do No one deserves to live after that And Ian’s comment, I haven’t seen Charles this attentive with a human in almost a hundred and fifty yearsHasn’t he told you about her yet? Then last week in Nevada, You have no idea how much I do understand

Spade did know the horror of discovering the broken body of someone he loved, just as she did It was the worst,in the world