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A vampire was near

BalthazarSkye than to leave her exposed Yet the vaered until a few one inside

That hen he heard Redgrave’s voice: "It doesn’t bother you?"

"A lot of things are bothering et athat would equip hi to? The fact that you’re stalking one of rave appeared froant clothes still perfect That camel-colored coat probably cost thousands of dollars; the crocodile leather shoes shone as if the slush and ice couldn’t touch the ability to res Balthazar loathed about hi lady has a haunted house The wraiths are no greater friends to you than they are to us How have you conquered your fear? Or tell me, Balthazar--have you conquered the wraiths?"

That was uncertainty in Redgrave’s voice--the only uncertainty Balthazar had ever heard fro varave’s, for reasons Balthazar had never been allowed to know; perhaps, two thousand years ago when Redgrave had still been new, still calling hiiven him, violence between the twin forms of the undead had beenwithin Skye’s house was very real … which meant Skye remained safe when at home

Small as this victory was, Balthazar had learned to cherish any win against his oldest and worst eneest places"

They faced each other then, without weapons, without other vampires Balthazar tried to rerave For the centuries since his death, Redgrave’s shadow had stretched across Balthazar’s years, drawing away the light

Redgrave said, "Teaching school How droll And dull, I’d think"

"You’re not going to hurt Skye"

"Skye" His voice caressed the word in a way that ive Redgrave her name "I don’t intend to hurt Skye Didn’t she tell you about our chat?"

"She did And your definition of hurt andway apart"

"Have you drunk frory, as if he wanted to live vicariously through Balthazar "She’d let you, of course It’s written all over her" He took a deep breath, as if scenting the air, then sighed "You have"

"I tasted her blood to see what it is you’re after"

"And now you knohat she’s really worth"

"I know that better than you ever could" Balthazar decided to try to talk sorave; selfish and corrupt as he was, he was usually logical "ThoseThey less If you drink Skye’s blood, if you try to make a habit of it, you’ll turn yourself into an addict Nothingto escape into the past more and more until you’ve lost yourself completely Is that really what you want?"