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As I ate, the roout eased I studied the rooed and redecorated the odd rooone, exposing the cracked and bowed plaster fro and the constant humidity It was cracked in the shape of a doorway Huh I looked up at the ceiling, putting the floor plan together in my mind I wondered whether one of Leo’s secret stairways, or maybe even an elevator, was behind the wall, a useless bit of trivia I’d never need

When I was done, I flopped back on the couch and looked at the people in the roo whiff of myself My clothes stank of sweat and blood and lillilend slime and ticked-off cat And vomit Ick My nose wrinkled But before I could take care of my stench, I had to know other stuff "How’s Leo and Gee?"

"Alive," Bruiser said "Both were bitten Both are unwell We brought in the priestesses" More gently, he added, "As you seem inclined to live, I’ll look in on theood Keep me inforave one of his patented non-nods

The security people in the room with us were armed to the teeth, taut with inaction and the need to do soot to ruel, though my stomach ached as if I’d been kicked "We have info to share and jobs to do," I said "But can ait until I’ve cleaned up before we do this?" I gestured around the room "This debrief?"

"We need hnuts"

"Computer access," Eli said, his eyes hard

Which was a clue to ht Okay," I said "I’ll get a fast shower and meet you in the conference room We’ll talk, cuss and discuss, and reach some preli one" I pointed to Wrassler "Divide up your people Two by two No one alone until we figure this out I want the grounds walked over, every inch I want the roofs looked over You’re looking for any clear sli whatever-it-was Plus which direction it ca or someone else"

When no one moved, I said, "Now!" The rooave le through As the door closed, I heard Wrassler giving orders and the sound of feetoff fast Yeah They’d needed jobs

I pushed hed fifty pounds each, and moved toward the door I was sore I really hoped I wouldn’t need to fight again soon Usually when I changed back fro was healed, but this pain was new, as if I’d been put back together wrong soh into the foyer, Eli calling after me, "You want me to shoith you, babe?" he asked "Wash your back?"

I s of teeth He’d choke on his tongue if I said yes "Watch my back Not wash it," I called to him He was by my side in an instant and I continued, ot in and I’m not quite ood that I had kept so from him, which means that no one else had realized hoorthless I was "You’reed to hurt Gee and Leo, and what effect it will have on theray place of the change, but I didn’t say that "And I need an update on the elevator situation"

"Alex is already working on everything He’ll have an update in fifteen minutes"

"Good Shower Now"

"Yeah," Eli said, far too casually "You really do stink, babe"

I had been running around vamp HQ in my filthy Lycra and bare feet, and no one had said a word about it Except ood pal Not

Fortunately, the elevator had been cleaned, housecleaning leaving behind a synthetic scent probably called Highlands Heather or Mystical Forest or soym floor, so I swiped my hand over the reader, punched a button, and soon I was standing, still clothed, under scalding hot water, letting it rinse away the stench of fighting

Standing under the hard spray, I stripped, and soht the s before it hit the floor and set it aside to finish cleaning When my hair ashed and combed, I was lotioned up, and rapped in one of the plush towels kept in the locker room, I called out to Eli, "I’m ready to dress now"

"Clear," caht of the curtained stalls The towel covering me from shoulder to knees, I tossed ned to me

I never knehat clothes I’d find in my locker, provided by the HQ staff Sometimes it was for shoes--black, gold, and a silver pair that I was pretty sure had been put there by Del Once, a pair of really nice foreous, black, cowl-necked sweater had been inside Today, I found clean undies, a pair of black knit pants, a pair of black jeans, teaters, and several T-shirts Leo was giving e Underneath the clothes and tied up with a red boas a brand-new, custoh holster, adjustable for various uns And iven me this? He was a narcissistic, dictatorial, tyrannical, despotic, spoiled-as-a-child blood-sucker and he thought he could buy his way into uns didn’t seem his style And then I saw the card It was handwritten on heavy card stock in black ink No envelope I lifted the card into the light and read

"If a blade, tea, and catnip were not sufficient, perhaps I ned with a simple script G

A smile pulled at my lips "Bruiser," I said And, "Woo What an odd little word" But the sh me