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When they pulled through the gate of the va Eh coffee in the city to keep her awake all night and all day, too

They didn’t park out front, but drove around to the back of the house Several hts flooded the area as soon as they pulled into it, uards appeared out of the shadows, souel did the same, his eyes covered by nearly black wraparound lenses when he eed from the SUV He spoke to one of the other vampires, then strode over and opened the driver’s door of her sedan, which looked s SUVs

"The prisoner will be secure in the basement, my lord," he said as Duncan slid out from behind the wheel "Alaric has constructed a stockade"

"And enjoyed doing it, no doubt"

"Yes, my lord He did comment that it had been years, and he hoped he remembered the proper ratio of bar tension"

"I want the prisoner alive, Miguel, not strangled to a slow death Not until after I question hiave him a startled look What would they do with their prisoner after they’d questioned him? The vampires seemed to avoid any contact with huo, either She frowned For that matter, ould they do with Lacey’s killer when they found hi, Eht next to her ear

She ju at him "We need to put a bell on you"

Duncan siing her toward the door "You could try I’d probably enjoy itthe trying part, that is" He opened the door and held it for her

"So," he continued, as they walked through a large kitchen "What had you frowning so?"

"You mean besides you?"

He nodded easily "Besidesup, but she really needed an answer on this one "What will you do e find them? The men who killed Lacey?"

They had reached the foyer below the stairs by then, and Duncan stopped, turning to face her "It is the policy of the vampire community to ith the human police and authorities at all times," he said blandly It sounded rehearsed and E the party line

Sheeyes "I didn’t ask what the policy was, Duncan These are powerful men If you turn them in to the authorities, they’ll be back on the streets in hours not days I want to knohat you’ll actually do when you catch the moment, then said, "The interests of the vampire community always come first" She opened her mouth to de, "There are some secrets we vampires never share I have reason to believe Victor wasindiscreet, shall we say, with regard to certain of these secrets Such knowledge, particularly in the hands of men such as these, represents a threat to my people, and I do not tolerate threats tonot just the words, but what he was trying to tell her She nodded "So you’ll eli to be perfectly clear

"Yes"

"I have no problem with that," she said firmly

His brown eyes sparkled "I aazed up in dismay at the many stairs between her and a comfortable bed

"I could carry you," Duncan said seriously

She s I’d never live it down"

"I wouldn’t tell anyone," he said, placing a hand under her elbow and lending his considerable strength as they started up the stairs

"I was talking about you"