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It was dark near the fence, so she hurried as best she could, one hand gliding along the lowest rail, using it for support, for balance Searching for her car, she saw there were far more vehicles parked here now than when she had arrived She had aher car would be blocked in, but then the big Land Rover cah

Cyn pulled the keys out of her pocket, using the key in the lock rather than the rehts to flash She slipped inside quickly, pulling the door closed, hoping no one had noticed the do with relief at having gotten this far, and terrified that at any , she maneuvered herself painfully across the low console and into the driver’s seat She rested her head on the steering wheel for a few preciousfor her vision to clear, for the nausea to pass Once she started the car, there’d be no rooood chance so, but there were people co all the time And the noise of the party should cover the sound of the engine

She turned the key, her eyes on the rearview led to reflect the front of the house No one see to park all the cars that had arrived with the big boss Cyn eased the car into reverse, backed up as far as she could, then spun the wheel hard to the left and hit the accelerator

Chapter Thirty-four

Raphael stood in his second-floor study and stared out at the dark night Pushkin was stalling Oh, he’d been the very picture of respect and courtesy, not too de his lord But Raphael had seen early on that no ree He would consider He would consult But there would be no agreeht Which left only one conclusion Pushkin was stalling for time

Time for what? Raphael wondered The easiest ansas that it was Pushkin who had suborned Albin and kidnapped Alexandra All along he’d known the kidnapping was a feint, that Alexandra was nothingto suspect and another to act on that suspicion Even a vahtly afford to alienate soht aspire to rule the western territories, even if he succeeded in destroying Raphael, it would not be Pushkin who rose to the top Powerful vampires from all over the country would contest the succession Pushkin wouldn’t live long enough to enjoy the fruits of his betrayal Not that there would be any fruits Raphael had no intention of per this insurrection to succeed

The door opened behind hilass as he entered the roo hihton has returned to her condo"

There was an underlying stress in Duncan’s voice and Raphael tensed "Duncan?"

"My lord, she is injured--"

He never got a chance to finish as Raphael strode fro "What happened?" he snarled as they walked

"Twentyherself, erratically, the guards said Their first thought was that she had been drinking, but thenShe pulled into her garage, closing the door behind her alet inside, but she had already entered her residence"

He paused and Raphael looked at him sharply "Blood, my lord She is obviously badly injured Blood filled the car and h the intercom, pounded on doors and s There has been no response My lord, they have disengaged her alaruards--"

"No one touches her," Raphael snapped They were cli for the driver to move before the doors were even closed Why had she run from him? And what had she run to?

Her condo was dark when they arrived; the only light was froe where Cyn’s Land Rover stood, the driver’s door hanging open He smelled the blood before he saw it So much blood Could a human survive such a loss?

"Get me inside" He didn’t ask if it was possible He didn’t care what it would take

"The other door, Sire," said one of the guards who’d been watching the condo