Page 18 (1/2)

Needing air, Syre left the building It was dusk now, the desert sky painted in shades of orange, pink, and purple A streak of lightning arced through the sky, then another Out of place, he thought, but beautiful

The sizzling heat of the day had abated, as had the fury of his earlier mood His second-in-command had put every vampire at risk by her actions, but part of hi beyond her vengeance She’d been twisted by bitterness for so long Long enough that it had beco she lived for

He pul ed his phone out of his pocket and dialed Adrian When the cal went to voice e "Adrian," he said darkly "Vashti’s actions today weren’t sanctioned Nevertheless, I’l go to the wal for her If it’s vengeance you want, you knohere to findthe cal , he rounded the corner of the building and ca of the building’s exterior, his araze was riveted to the slender fe, as if agitated, and speaking on a phone To Adrian

Syre waved the Fal en captain away and shoved his hands in his pockets, taking up the watchful position he’d disuilt, sorrow, grief, and anger As he watched the wohter in every way-- the woreatest vulnerability of his oldest adversary--he realized he had no idea what to say to her…or do with her If anything

"I can tough it out," she was saying "I’l be home soon, neshama Please don’t worry…Yes, I know that’s impossible That’s why I’m here, isn’t it?

Because I’ the cal , she stared down at the phone in her hand and sighed There was soret and weariness that struck a chord in Syre

Pivoting, she faced hi in the waning light She was a fledging, stil growing into her new senses

"How are you feeling, Lindsay?"

She shoved her hand through her curls, a habit he remembered she fel into when discoed

"Not so hot"

He stepped closer, slowly, approaching her in a nonthreatening htness of her eyes and her rapid, shal ow breathing "How ive the Alpha?"

"A pint Maybe a little e," hehis hand cautiously toward her face "Can I?"

She nodded

He found her skin burning hot "How often is Adrian feeding you?"

"Every few hours"

"How long has it been?" He caught her chin when she looked away "How long, Lindsay?"

"Six Maybe seven"

"You need to eat"

She shook her head

Syre re blood had so horrified her She’d al to feed He was surprised to find that he was relieved she’d survived after al

He blew out his breath "Co into her back pocket, she pul ed out a bandana and began to tie it around her head, covering her eyes

"That’s not necessary," he said

"It’s safer for o bal istic The less risk I pose, the better for everyone"

"Al right" Gripping her elbow, he steered her back into the building and toward the office he’d commandeered as his own

As they crossed the vast space, lycans who’d been sitting at various points around the open warehouse pushed slowly to their feet, eyeing hiht Going head-to-head with Adrian and the Sentinels wasn’t so to let him incite a ith Adrian over Lindsay

Syre shut theed the bandana off her face Although his night vision was excel ent, he was struck by the sight of her in the harsh glare of the fluorescent overhead lights She was nothing like Shadoe, but stil …he felt oddly soothed in her presence

So with disquiet inside him settled down She sank into one of the two chairs positioned in front of the utilitarian metal desk and he took the one beside it

She studied him boldly

His brows rose in silent inquiry

"I was scared the first time I saw you," she explained "Afterward, I was distracted and then very il "

"You’re not scared now?"

"You’re being very careful that I won’t be"

His ht

"You’re…very attractive," she ad forward, he set his elbows on his knees and got to thepoint "You drank froain?"

"Why?"

"You need to eat Fledglings are easily das and you’ve given some of your blood away"

"That’s not what I meant I knohy I should want to, but I don’t knohy you would"

Syre looked down, gathering his thoughts "I don’t know It’s a cos, I suppose You’re as close as I’l ever be to Shadoe Until I pass on"

"I’ his appreciation and respect