Page 56 (1/2)

And then his gaze fell on Colin, standing so close to Sophia, and for one one, and he save youelse, heh?" He chuckled dryly and then coughed, one hand hitting the wall as he staggered into it

"Sandra love," Lucien said, beckoning the Koepke woman to his side She hurried over, her face wreathed in joy as she gazed up at the vampire lord’s ruined countenance

"He’s beautiful, isn’t he?" she whispered, her fingers reaching upward to stroke his cheek, halting inches away as if not daring to despoil such perfection

Lucien suided hi upholstered chair in the corner as if he was a visiting prince

"She doesn’t see hi The words were intended for Colin’s ears, but she knew every valalory, as he used to be"

Sophia tore her gaze away fro all over Lucien, and studied Raphael, wondering ould happen next She could feel the hunger rising from every vampire in the room It was only the fact that Lucien was her Sire that kept her own hunger fro theirs Va vahts Raphael was the epitome of Vampire, the predator’s predator And Lucien had just shown hi answers before Lucien died She stared at hie? Why--" She struggled to find words for a concept she didn’t really understand "Why diestured at their h her words encolare at Sophia onceit softly to pull her attention back to him "I have spoken to her of you, Sophia," he said without looking away from Koepke "I’m afraid she is somewhat jealous Gently, cherie," he murmured to the human, and the familiar endearust in equal measure

That was all he said for soaze, as if asking for permission to tell his story He had to know his situation was precarious, Sophia thought worriedly But did he understand the extent of his danger? Did he know his actions had nearly cost the life of Raphael’s mate? It was a miracle, an act of supreme restraint on Raphael’s part, that Lucien still breathed

Lucien was still staring at his fellow vahtened perceptibly, but he nodded, a short, sharp jerk of his chin

Lucien seeh He leaned back in the chair, one gnarled hand stroking Koepke’s head where she sat tucked up against his legs like a dog

"It was a woan "I’ve always had a weakness for beauty, although it never mattered whether it wass in front of your hurowl, little more than an audible vibration, emanated from Raphael where he stood near the eht, old friend," Lucien said quickly "I am sorry for the deaths of your people I never intended-- Well, that’s not quite true

"But the woman was lovely, and I was vain Little to be vain about anyh ma belle Sandra seesher head once oes back to before I became what you see And the woly shocked to discover that I was Va really existed I knoas all a pose, but I was too blinded by her flattery to recognize it She was intrigued by everything--what I hat I could do And finally, by all of the others I held in rasp I boasted like a fool I told her about the vahbors, friends, even coworkers were none the wiser I told her of our houses, our wealth"

A pink tear rolled fro itself in the deep creases of his cheeks

"And I then I showed her I showed her Giselle," he said in a barely audible voice

Sophia jerked at the nali memories He’d been there when the Vancouver vaht to her," she said, horrified "They murdered her, Lucien They killed all three of them while they lay helpless in sleep!"

Lucien looked away, refusing to reat shame," he said softly

"What happened to the human woman?" Raphael demanded harshly