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Malkom&039;s lips parted Kallen&039;s body was lifeless no an to twitch, tomove in the dirt
Not fro with life The headless neck puain snapped his fingers for the demon slaves Once the pair had kicked Kallen&039;s body into the grave, the sorcerer scattered more of that dust over all To make Kallen whole once more?
When smoke snaked up from the depths, the Viceroy raised his bloody sword "Now &039;tis your turn, Slaine And I pro from the dead - if it takes - will be the easy part If you live, I will break you"
Malkoods who had never once answered his most desperate entreaties Please, do not let h the air He perceived the scantest bite of blade
Then nothing
Despite Malkohts later, waking into a nighth the dirt, inching their way to the surface, they&039;d been thrown in a eon
They hadn&039;t suffocated as they&039;d risen because they no no breaths Nor did their hearts beat
The walking dead Vampire I am a vampire
No! Malkoe and fight it Even as he recognized how h he wore no cuffs to prevent hier had that ability His clammy skin felt as if a thousand spiders crawled all over hi painfully Even in the low light, ony
His very hearing was different, round beneath hirave, the burgeoning need for blood had lashed hiuish roiled within him
In Kallen, too He stared at the filthy cell walls, hollow-eyed and unblinking
"We will fight our way free," Malkom assured him now, "then return home"
"We are Scarba Brother, no de theht The torse even than the vampires They were defiled demons, cursed to feed off their own kind They were the end feared by all
Kallen rasped, "There is no reason to go on"
"There is always a reason" How many times had Malko else, you can seek vengeance" He himself would not rest until retribution was hter the sorcerer who&039;d uards who&039;d held them down, and the bloodthirsty Viceroy whose sick will had set them all into motion
Then he would return to destroy Ronath
Those who betrayed Malkom did it only once
When all was done, he would find a way to erase every vampire trait from himself, to rid his veins of the Viceroy&039;s blood and return to what he&039;d been
Or he&039;d greet the sun Malkom frowned Would that kill a Scarba?
"Live for vengeance?" Kallen said "Tell h?"
How to answer that "uestion when Malkom&039;s own dreams appeared so ridiculous now?
He&039;d wanted a home that no one could ever force him to leave He&039;d wanted as much food and water as he could ever enjoy But ed to be respected like Kallen - a noble like hiifted with a blood far better than his own
Malkom&039;s only fortune was that no one else had ever discovered how hborn "Then live for your fated feed Kallen "She will accept you She must"
"Is that what you seek, Malkom? Your fated one?"
"I&039;ve no such expectations" What use had he for a wo for a noble line or sons to work the water mines with him
"No? Then why have you never taken a deaze flicked away Never had he known a female Those who followed the army could be had for a price, but Malkoent his need, no matter how badly his curiosity burned, he physically couldn&039;t
They s extinguished his lusts like the scent of seed
So he&039;d put females from his mind As a boy, he disciplined himself not to dream about food He&039;d applied that sa about intercourse
At length, Malko for me - "
The Viceroy traced into their cell, his eyes lit with pleasure "Ree," he said The vampire wasn&039;t shocked the ritual had worked - he was bri with pride So howDo you feel the Thirst? It&039;s sacred to us, as death is" His gaze fell first on Kallen, then on Malkom "Only the one who kills - or answers the Thirst - will ever leave this cell alive"
Just as Malkom tensed to attack, the Viceroy disappeared
Once their situation sank in and he&039;d found his voice, Malkoht each other" They both knew that when he said fight, he ht my brother" But if anyone was freed, it should be Kallen He&039;s all that is good
"Nor I," Kallen vowed
"We will not," Malkoht to convince Kallen - or himself
Three weeks later
Malkoy just to reh defeated
Day after day had passed with no food, water, or - dark gods help the until he&039;d silently wept He&039;d caught hi him
At tiaze on his own neck
Never had he hungered like this Last night, Malkom had waited until Kallen fitfully dozed Then he&039;d sunk his aching fangs into his own arusted by how rich he&039;d found the taste How delicious, how blistering the pleasure
Endless days passed as their bodies withered but would not die With no industry to be had, no battles to be fought, Malko in his un to have doubts How i means more betrayal
His first betrayal had been dealt by his own er so acute he&039;d nearly blacked out She&039;d railed that he was never satisfied, then sold him to a vampire ould feed him all he wanted if he was an "obedient and affectionate" boy
His second betrayal? That sa Malkoutter, back to hunger But against all odds, Malko, until he&039;d finally been ready to exact revenge on the master Malkom had always been observant, and he&039;d noted every protection guarding that vampire&039;s home He&039;d found it easy to steal back inside, take out the guards, and murder the master who&039;d tormented his youth and twisted hilorious, to kill one of their kind, he&039;d hunted another, and another
Soon, word of his deeds had reached Kallen&039;s ears The prince had invited hi Malkom to join their rebellion, even to lead it
Eventually Malkoed in the street, asked to dinner by Kallen, paid in riches and fine clothing - ht about For so long, shaed hiutter
He&039;d known his people didn&039;t love hi their respect each tio when he&039;d noticed a tension a toohi betrayal at every turn No matter how many ti on in that head of yours, Malkom?" Kallen asked froerous look on your face"
"My thoughts are dark"
"As are mine I fear we near the end"
"There is no end" Malkom faced him "Not until I decide it"
A sad saunt face "Fierce as ever" He rose unsteadily, then limped to stand before Malkoo on" His eyes flickered black with emotion "So embrace me, my friend" He wrapped his ar by his sides, Malko in confusion I&039;ve never been e
Was this giving instead? Anize it? Hesitantly, Malkom wrapped his arms around Kallen as well Not so bad
When he felt Kallen&039;s lips against his neck, Malkohtly So as this? You are norant in the ways of affection -
Kallen&039;s lips parted
He was going to drink With the realization, Malko, the will to survive rising up But if he was truly steadfast, he&039;d sacrifice hiood of the crown How ht hie, to channel it
He&039;d given Malkom purpose If not noble in blood, then in deed
But memories arose within him, sordid scenes with a vas in the darkthe way the ainst his own
No, no! "Do not do this thing, Kallen" Malkom&039;s voice was hoarse "Do not betray our friendship" Don&039;t betray me
"I am sorry," he said, his tone defeated "I do not have a choice"
Kallen is all that is good Though Malkoain, he soers dug into his back, clutching him even closer
A final sacrifice for my friend? Can I control my will to live?
Or would the prince&039;s brutal guard dog finally turn on him?
When Malko, Kallen rasped, "Steady, Malko a wretched groan of pleasure as he sucked And the sound was so fa of his body just like the an to ware erupted, and he roared with it Cannot control this
Seizing Kallen by the shoulders, Malkom shoved him back He looked down at the prince and knew that, for hiive me, brother "
But those who betray me do it only once