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A wisp of pain tugged at his awareness and he stared out the rain-darkenedat the new coray concrete and redwood construction, at the sole?" Cyn asked abruptly

He turned his head tointo his with a sure knowledge of his" His voice trailed away as he tried to capture whatever it was that had caught his attention But there was so rief, as well as pain at the terrible loss they’d suffered Surely that was it, that two of their number had been wiped frouished in seconds as their shocked cries bit into his soul But that wasn’t it Or that wasn’t everything His gaze sharpened

"Stop," he co the limo to a full stop before his conscious uely cognizant of the alarh the ranks of his security, of Cyn’s voice calling his naht

Wei Chen and the others hurried toward him, their faces creased with concern

"My lord" Raphael’s lieutenant, Duncan, appeared at his side, while his Security Chief, Juro, calmly deployed various personnel to accommodate this new development There was very little that could rattle Juro; it hy Raphael had chosen hih the rain, testimony to his lack of any kind of routine physical activity

Raphael lifted his head, his gaze searching the elegant face of the building, his heart aching at the pain he felt there "Jereaze upon Wei Chen, his black eyes beginning to gleaer "What’s happened, Wei Chen? Where’s Jere "His house was attacked earlier,He was alreadya trail of pain that was as clear as if it were painted on the ground before him

Wei Chen hurried to keep up with hi his blood--"

"It will not be enough," Raphael said, knowing it was true He pushed through the heavy glass doors, heedless of everything but the need of his child pulling hi into what passed for an infirmary on the vampire compound

It was a smallish room Vampires rarely required more than a donor’s blood and a few hours rest, and only the youngest vampires or the most serious injuries delow of a wall la for her delicate frame Her face was nearly as pale as the sheets she lay upon, the white bindings upon her legs and arms still soaked with her life’s blood

"Jeremy"

The vampire looked up at the sound of his Sire’s voice, his face a rief, streaked with the dried blood of his tears "My lord," he said brokenly, falling to his knees "It’s not enough My bloodIt’s not enough" His voice cracked as he began to sob, great wracking sounds that tore at Raphael’s soul

He went to the broken va him as he would a child, his child, reborn as Vaainst his Sire’s hip and Raphael stroked his head in co the woman, Mariane, as he did so He noted the shallow rise and fall of her chest, the sluggish beat of her heart, which was barely h her body The flesh of her fingers was already pale and cold, as her body shut down her extreans it could

"It is not too late, Jeremy," Raphael said for his vampire’s ears only "Letwith possessiveness for a briefyou, my lord, if it would help her"

Raphael shook his head chidingly "You are ently disengaged fro the expensive gar close behind hi it off to someone else as he walked around to the opposite side of the bed She followed, staying close by his side, and his heart wrenched at the thought of her lying in this sterile bed instead of poor Mariane