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Concentrating hard, she got her fangs and claws to extend She was stil getting used to what she was--acreatures she’d trained herself to kil in vengeance for herpeace with her new identity was difficult at the best of times, but there were occasions--such as this one--when she appreciated the benefits

Adrian moved quickly and silently, one lass ay above her If transients had holed up in the house, they were about to receive the fright of their lives Perhaps that would teach them not to squat in someone else’s abode

Lindsay entered the coh an open archway The space was smal but cozy A dinette fil ed the alcove in front of a backyardand a couch faced a flat-screen TV hung over a s her enough that her claws retreated without her volition She was trying to process her lack of control over her body when a photo of Adrian and Helena on theher It was a costly lapse

"Hel o, Lindsay"

An agonizing shard of pain in her shoulder dropped her to her knees with a sharp cry Dizzy, her flesh sizzling, she looked at the s knife embedded in her shoulder Then she lifted her head to ht were hazy at best--s than true pictures--but Vash was a hard woet The vivid red hair and penchant for painted-on black clothing made her almost a caricature of a comic book superhero But when Lindsay had bitten into Vash’s throat and sed the vampress’s blood, she’d been exposed to thewas absent froe of her ht the terror and revulsion she felt every tith to yank the blade from her arm, but she moved too slowly A mere split second and she found herself on her feet with Vashti pressed to her back and another silver blade--a dagger--held to her throat

"Let her go, Vashti" Adrian’s voice was chil ingly modulated, his face impassive as he suddenly fil ed the threshold between the kitchen and living roohtened senses, she felt his turh the air--a te you here," Vash said, speaking over Lindsay’s shoulder, their faces nearly cheek to cheek "I aiting on Helena, but you’la step into the rooain"

"She’s as weak as a babe" Vash shifted, positioning her body so that both Lindsay and the kitchen island stood between her and Adrian

"Fledglings are like infants, you know Floundering in their own bodies, overwheled She real y should be with the rest of us We can teach her how to survive"

"What part of ‘she’s mine’ don’t you understand?"

"As ue ht to take her life We police ourselves, as you know"

"And do a piss-poor job of it"

"We have to leave you so to do"

His chest lifted and fel with a deep inhalation "What do you want, Vashti?"

"And so the fierce and hty Adrian bends…for a vampire I so wish I had ti off the counter and tossed it at Adrian, who caught it deftly "But I’le when she sahat it was

A blood bag

"Don’t do it," Lindsay said, realizing just how dangerous this confrontation had become If Vash had sniffed out the effects of Sentinel blood on the infected va discovery endangered every life on earth As few Sentinels as there were, they stilcountless mortal lives If they were hunted to extinction for their blood, the whole world would suffer

"How noble and self-sacrificing," Vash murling sacrificing herself for the powerful Sentinel You two are so sappy you’reme nauseous"

Adrian took another step toward them "You used to knohat it was like to love"

"Not a step closer or I’l have to kil her" The flat of the blade sizzled against Lindsay’s neck,to me--you know that"

Lindsay stared hard at Adrian "Don’t do it"

Vash’s lips pressed to her ear like a lover’s "Isn’t Elijah worth it to you? Or is your friendship so fickle?"

Stiffening, Lindsay’s breath quickened The familiar scent that had sent her claws into retreat was Elijah’s And it was al over Vash "What have you done to him?"

"What’s been done can stil be undone…with a little Sentinel blood"

A tremor racked Lindsay’s frame She hadn’t spoken to Elijah since he mutinied She had no idea what had pro so riht be a mystery, but what they’d been to each other before was not He’d been a friend and trusted companion when she needed one She couldn’t bear to think of hiht die," Vash prodded "This could be the one thing capable of saving hi hard, Lindsay continued to stare at Adrian, ould’ve heard every ith his powerful Sentinel hearing

"Your blood is dan Lindsay recognized as agitation "If you want to save hiiven hih, he’s dead already"

Lindsay’s sto I’e"

"Lindsay, no" To the casual observer, Adrian appeared unmoved by her statement But the compulsory resonance in his words hit her like a Mack truck, sending a racking jolt through her body

Vash’s grip loosened a fraction "When’s the last time you fed from him?"

It took her a moment to squeeze an answer past Adrian’s coo"

"Vashti" Adrian’s voice ruh the roolass Lindsay was thrown outside the house and into the street…or so it seemed When the world shuddered back into place, she realized Vash had leaped with her through the glass door and over the wal …into a waiting convertible They tore off like a bul et with Adrian directly behind the split the sky and hit the asphalt in front of the car