Page 53 (1/2)

Affection surged in herand apprehension She had to talk with him Her eyes fell to her scarred hands and she let Sebastian answer Michalas’s question with his own conjecture

"It’s not certain how long she’d been undead, but she couldn’t have had the elixir for very long, of course Sheit as soon as her brother returned from Italy--with the queen, and the seru but glower from the corner Victoria could feel his iet away

"I have the suspicion," Sebastian continued, "and perhaps we’ll never know for certain, that Gwendolyn was already part of the Tutela when Victoria and I were at her house party with John Polidori Shetime--and then she had to wait until we returned from Italy"

"But she sent her brother after you," said Max

Michalas nodded, his eyes light with humor "It was all the women, wasn’t it? Lilith, Caroline, Sara, Gwenall sty suddenly Perhaps she sensed the undercurrents, perhaps she merely understood that Victoria was, indeed, exhausted Heart-sick, worried, wearyyet hopeful Ridiculously hopeful "We can discuss this at another tiued with Wayren; Max was the first one out the door He lione

Sebastian stayed when Victoria closed her fingers around his wrist

The door shut and they were alone

He said nothing, just looked at her

"ISebastian," she began, but he raised a four-fingered handwhether he used that one purposely or not, she didn’t know It would be just like him to, as he put it, play up his heroisave her a crooked sle to her bellyjust not the right tingle "My pride cannot handle it"

"Howdid you know?"

He settled his golden hands on her shoulders, one finger stretching up to caress the side of her neck "It’s been there for all to seefor whoever cared to look I chose not toand so has he Victoria" His voice becahtened "He’s not worthy of you He hasn’t the ability tofeel I don’t want you to be hurt And yet--no" He shook his head sharply His sensual lips firmed so that a humorless dimple appeared "I can’t wish you well, or wish you to be with him I simply cannot He’s made it clear to me that--" He stopped, squeezed her shoulders, bent to kiss her

It was a farewell kiss--she read that much in it Or, at least, an au revoir kissrather than an adieu An "I’ll wait for you" kiss, rather than a good-bye

When she pulled away, he was breathing unsteadily, and so to be honest was she Sebastian made her feelyes, he did He turned up the spark, he curled her insides, he h

And as he looked down at her, she saw the understanding in his face And she knew that in this, as always, he’d be the gentleman

Victoria knehere to find Max

She knocked, but didn’t wait for his answer before she opened the door to the small bedcha

"What do you want?" His voice was sharp Annoyed

She’d surprised hi a bloody book, the bastard

The skin on his face and neck, and what little she could see under the loose shirt he wore, was scraped and raw The bite , but the ry purple-red ones, despite the salted holy water Wayren had poured on them At least they would heal

When he looked at her, his eyes were flat, devoid of eht?"

That was the wrong thing to say; she realized it as soon as the words came out His eyes went darker and his face becaone there, Victoria You should have bloody well stayed away and let things happen" He stood, anger rolling off him in waves "You were nearly killed, you stupid, addled woman!"

She sed and her throat squeaked "I told you I would come I wasn’t about to leave you with her"

"I would have taken care ofa hand down onto the table A glass and carafe rattled against each other "When will you learn to do what’s right for everyone--not just what you want to do? Blasted stubborn, infantile woman You take risks for no bloody reason"

"You should speak," she said, just as angry now "You--"

"You’re Illa Gardella," he shouted "I’ry like thisit was different froed hier This wasuncontrollable Almost uncontrollable And laced with desperation

That was itdesperation Andfear?

And that gave her the impetus to push further

"Must you remind me constantly?" she said "If you had it your way, I’d be locked up in soht and risk their lives"

"I’er a Venator, Victoria" Bitterness Oh, such bitterness