Page 26 (1/2)

"One of e bite," said Quentin "He said that he was attacked by another vampire in a town that was miles away from our own His opinion was that his attacker had been a newborn vauilty for killing hi odd as many newborns are kept isolated and weak by their Sires while they get their bloodlust and gift under control"

He was right about that It had happened to Saured that it had been a newborn who escaped his nest?"

"Yes," replied Quentin "Butworse I didn’t know enough about The Call to realise that it was a sympto that I realised as happening By then, it was too late He’d fed from many vampires within the nest, and they’d fed from others, who’d fed from others, and so and so on – the taint had already spread ast the nest" His eyes took on a faraway quality I knew his mind was back in those tunnels

"That hen you left?" Saaze ain focused "Yes, the few of us who hadn’t fed from any of the tainted va to find a cure to bring back to them"

Ava stepped forward "Did three Sventés escape the tunnels with you?" Saleed her back to his side in a protective move

Quentin shook his head "No, I’htly shut and bowed her head Sale her back at the same time that Cristiano curled an ar at each other It was so to Sam, Cristiano was very protective of his sister and had never liked other guys being around her

Returning my attention to Quentin, I said, "It would have been helpful if you had alerted people that The Call had surfaced"

"I couldn’t risk it I orried that people would come and destroy my nest before I’d had a chance to search for some way to save theht The Call, but I didn’t want to accept that I couldn’t"

That was so I understood all too well I was still pissed that he hadn’t told anyone, but I could adht have done the same in his position "This vampire as the first to become tainted…Did he tell you the exact place that the supposed ‘newborn’ attacked hi if there are more tainted vampires out there, the answer is yes I’ve had so for them in that area, but they haven’t been easy to find"

Sam frowned "How can they be difficult to find? I mean, they’re not exactly inconspicuous Surely the taint should be widespread in that area by now if some are loose in society"

"Not if the bitten vaes and then isolate or kill thehout history to prevent The Call froe to the population – and, of course, because they feared attacking those they cared for My people have found the occasional lone one roa in that area, but there haven’t been many Each one they found has been destroyed"

Well that was good news…Just not the good news that I’d wanted

His astute gaze landed on uessed "Antonio?"