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"But …" Raphael said, and his expression said there definitely was a but

"Boy’s got a proble ’euilty look, and said, "Sorry, ladies"

"We’re both familiar with the word," Kathryn said dryly "But how is it possible that you hung out with sorinned and flashed her a lascivious wink "I told you, he doesn’t e of volunteers for the job But other than that … he thinks they’re beneath hi"

"Hhtfully "Sounds like bad lad he’s only a vampire instead of a serial killer" She paused a beat "Oh wait, they’re the sa, and Kathryn joined in, the two of the They looked over at their respective va to share the joke, and found the two of theh harder

"An FBI agent, Lucas? Really?" Raphael said griht," Lucas drawled "Because yours stays ho tears from her eyes "Hey! I can bake cookies"

That only earned her a disbelieving scowl froain He shook his head and turned back to Lucas

"Where is Aden now?"

"In St Louis, but he can be here toht I’ll meet hiracefully to his feet "In the meantime, this house is yours Kathryn and I will stay at the homestead, and I’ll tell Aden to meet us out there tomorrow It’s more discreet"

"That’s acceptable," Raphael said "But, Lucas," he added, his voice going cold and deadly, "once that’s done, we’re going to find out as after us and why Because, if there’s to be a hunt, I intend to be the hunter, not the hunted"

Chapter Four

Cyn waited while Raphael sealed the elevator door behind them, then turned and eyed the well-appointed bedroom

"This isn’t Lucas’s and Kathryn’s bedroo his leather jacket on the back of a chair "This is a guest room Would it matter?"

"Yes," she said e in someone else’s bedroom"

"You slept inrestlessly around the rooo"

"Just feels like it," she said absently

"Should I be insulted or flattered?"

"Take your pick"

"Cynthia," Raphael said He didn’t use her full na?" he asked

She studied hi moment, then said, "What’s the situation, Raphael? When you were talking to Lucas," she clarified, when he gave her a puzzled frown "You said so about how he understood the situation Well, I want to understand it, too What is it?"

"Ah"

Cyn watched hi her breath as she waited to see what his next words would be Would he answer her question? Or would he deflect it with casual humor, or even sex?

He picked up his jacket fros squeezed hard enough to become a physical pain in her chest when he lifted his black-eyed gaze and said, "Sit with me, lubimaya"

"I can stand"

"Please"

She eyed hi her throat But he’d said "please," which he rarely did, so she walked over She intended to sit on the opposite chair, but Raphael had other plans He snagged her hand and tu her there when she would have gotten up

"Raphael I’et away until I finish speaking"

"Is it that bad?" she whispered, her chest so tight she could barely draw breath for the words

"It is very serious, and, yes, it is bad, though I suspect not the way you mean it"