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She lifted her chin defiantly "Your wound will heal during your death-sleep"

"That’s five hours froed off Still too lared at the guard The guy’s name was Stanislav, but Jedrek didn’t like to call people by their names It made them think that somehow you liked them "Give me your shirt"

"Yes, Master" Stanislav unbuttoned his white shirt

Meanwhile, a form wavered, then solidified by the desk It was Yuri He sheathed his sword and avoided looking at Jedrek

"Where’s Stasio?" Jedrek demanded

"He--he’s dead," Yuri whispered

"Then he should have fought better" Jedrek grabbed the shirt Stanislav offered and wrapped it around the cut on his forearm The white cotton turned red with blood "Who killed him? Was it one of those damned Scotsmen?"

"No," Yuri replied "It was the black vampire"

"Black?" Stanislav asked "I wonder"

"Out with it," Jedrek growled

"There was a black guy in our coven for a while," Stanislav explained "Phineas McKinney Alek transfor dealer, and Katya needed his help to htshade"

Unfortunately, the now-deceased Katya had used up all the Nightshade in her failed atteus MacKay to Casi here in the office, but no such luck "Where is this Phineas? If I’d had soht, I could have paralyzed Ian MacPhie and brought him back"

"I haven’t seen Phineas in over a year" Stanislav tilted his head, concentrating "Last ti for Katya, but she and Galina had already gone to the Ukraine"

Jedrek narrowed his eyes He’d debugged this office when Katya was ain when he’d beco both sides "Look through the photos on my desk There’s a picture of a black Vah the photos, then stopped "This is hiritted his teeth "And when Phineas was here in the office, did you tell him where Katya was?"

Stanislav opened his mouth to answer, then snapped it shut when realization struck He gulped audibly

"What did I say about incorowled

Yuri drew his sword and awaited the order

Stanislav stepped back, his face pale "I thought he was on our side He helped us htshade"

Jedrek inhaled deeply Fear radiated from Stanislav like the sweetest of perfumes "You will have one chance to redeem yourself You will kill Phineas McKinney"

"Of course" Stanislav nodded enthusiastically "It’ll be my pleasure"

Yuri sheathed his sith a disappointed look

"First you will find me a snack," Jedrek told Stanislav "This wound has left ht away" Stanislav left just as Nadia arrived, her hands filled with bandages and tape She approached hi" Jedrek perched on the edge of his desk and lifted his wounded ar the gauze around his forear his fingers into her earlier "I enjoy hurting you" Her hands shook as she bandaged his ar the proper aave hiods

"What about the drug?" Yuri asked "And Ian MacPhie?"

"I need to heal first" Jedrek flexed his hand "Toet our answers And Vaed Toni froht, the silver rooht drew her attention, and she stiffened when she realized she wasn’t alone in the dark rooreen plaid kilt The broad shoulders and black ponytail that curled on the end

The red exit light above the door cast a dilow across the room Ian removed a bottle of blood fro sound She glanced at the bedside clock Tiet up for work She sat up, and the rustle of sheets caused Ian to turn toward her

"Och, I dinna mean to wake you"

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"It’s okay It’s tiet up" "Ye can sleep late if ye like" She immediately collapsed onto the bed "Oh God, yes" He chuckled "Everyone is staying here for their death-sleep There are a few bedrooms here in the

cellar, all with surveillance ca over us" Toni glanced up at the caht indicated it was turned on "There’s a second office for day security," Ian continued "They watch over theI hear it’s verra busy upstairs during the day Lots ofit to hospitals and blood banks"

"You’re not worried one of the mortal employees will stumble onto a Vamp in his death-sleep?" "The mortals are no’ allowed in the basement Ye need a special key card to make the elevator come here or access the stairway I left one on the table for you here"

"Did I ed on shoulder "The townhouse was invaded" "What?" She sat up "The Malcontents were there?" "Aye Phineas killed one He was verra proud of himself Jedrek tried to teleport aith rief," Toni whispered This ful "Are you okay?" "Aye" Ian finished his bottle and rinsed it out in the kitchen sink "We expect they’ll try

soet o to the bathroom first" She padded to the bathroom Once she was done, she

shut the door behind her and let her eyes adjust to the red-tinted darkness Ian was no longer in the kitchen She moved toward the bed and halted There he was, on the far side, lying on top of the covers,

wearing his kilt, a white T-shirt, and his knee socks

"What are you doing?" She glanced around the room There was only one bed Maybe if she pushed the easy chairs together, she could e-- "I willna molest you, lass Verra soon, I’ll no’ be able to ether

over his stoh I hope ye willna have yer ith ht Because there’s so so irresistible about a corpse" His mouth curled into a half smile as he looked at her "If it bothers you to sleep next to me, I can lie on the floor Once I’m dead, I’ll hardly know the difference"

"I’ve dated a few guys with the same level of sensitivity," she muttered while she debated whether to climb back into bed He yawned and closed his eyes "I’ll be gone soon"