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When Albin finally joined hiive his old co varant hiiven in Raphael’s doned his old friend to Alexandra’s security detail, a coveted assignment Alexandra was lovely, weak for a varand scheme of power, but important to Raphael, bound to him by unbreakable ties that stretched back hundreds of years He granted her every whier desired to live in, using his money and power to create a bubble in tied Until today
The limo rolled past the lass gazing out over the ocean Lights illu around to what local real estate agents eupheuest house" It was Alexandra’s dream house, an 18th century French es of history Raphael had it custom built for her; he had spared no expense She loved this house
His bodyguards for before the vehicle had fully ceased its forward uards were nervous, keenly aware of Alexandra’s abduction, knowing this was aet Raphael exited carefully, sensitive to his guards concerns, willing to go along with their need to get him within the safety of four walls as quickly as possible
He smelled the blood as soon as he entered the house His nostrils flared and anger surged unchecked for the first time since Duncan had told hi to fill the echoing hallway and beyond, spreading dread before him in an unseen wave Varovel in the wake of his rage Human servants, hidden behind doors, cried out in fear, their wails drenching the air with terror
"Duncan" His voice pulsed with fury, the elaborate chandelier above hi violently with the force of it
"Sire" Duncan came to his side, the only one who had not cowered in abject terror Raphael turned a frosty gaze on his lieutenant and watched hi those cold eyes on the vaoire"
Alexandra’s chief of security looked up, courage losing the battle against fear as he faced his Master "Sire," he all but whispered, his throat too dry to do oire jumped to his feet, relief at this temporary reprieve written plainly on his face "I’ve set up in the command center, my lord If you--"
Raphael swept by him, past the elaborate staircase, past the rooms filled with priceless antique furniture and satin-covered walls, to a narrow staircase leading doard The basehteenth century home above it Computers hummed amidst video screens that revealed virtually every corner of the coe house To Raphael’s left as he entered was a caged arsenal containing a variety of personal weapons known not only to modern man, but to ancient man as well Broadswords and heavy axes, all manner and shape of blade, claiuns of every variety, from a stubby Snuant, and lethal, se with boxes of auard knelt at its barred entrance
To Raphael’s right, a vault-like door stood open, revealing a corridor of smaller ordinary doors Behind each of these was a private chauards, as well as all the vaned to her security detail, took their daytime rest Once the vault door was secured, it could be opened only from the inside except by Duncan or by Raphael himself It was behind this door that the vampire soldiers had been safely ento kidnapped only feet above their heads He felt a fresh surge of rage
"Gregoire?"
"Here, est console Raphael sat down and stared at the i one of her ridiculously elegant gowns and sitting at the Steinway he’d bought for her when this house was first built He could still see the delight on her face when she’d stepped into her new parlor and found the big, black concert grand, its velvet-cushioned bench pulled out invitingly Raphael blinked away the e Matias sat next to her, Albin approaching theoire, but covered the in playback of the security footage Matias had known of the security system within therecorded Albin had not been briefed on the extent of the surveillance, but he would surely have noted the cah this control rooht for the past several weeks since he had been assigned to protect Alexandra He would have seen the video security monitors But did he understand how much was covered by the caht on video, or did he simply not care?
Raphael watched Matias die, saw the huuise his disbelief
"Huate shows their arrival When ate closed, the bodies of our daylight guards piled inside the wall out of sight I can show you the playback froestured at the next monitor, but Raphael shook his head "Just tell me," he said
"My lord Albin waited until I and the others were downstairs in our chauards here at the house and unlocked the outside door for the huate, hid the bodies, and drove directly here to the lady’s house"
"I see," Raphael said with a deceptive caluarded but for Albin and Matias?"