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More than sixty vamps surrounded her She faced one, the va back around the edges of the factory, waiting for the order to attack

"You're good," said the va Unlike the others, his eyes were pure black rather than red "I see you refused my offer"

"Offer?" she echoed

"To spare your brother if you took care of Jonny"

Ashley straightened, surprised "You're Valon?"

"I am"

Panic fluttered to life inside her She didn't knohat to say and had always been a horrible liar

Valon drew closer without drawing his weapons He was studying her The gleaence in his eyes confirmed what Jonny had said about him "That's it? You'd rather let your brother die?" he asked "Did you e, Natural? Or are you stupid?"

"No," she said finally "Is he here?"

"He'll be dead before you are"

Fear seized her before she recalled what Jonny had said "You won't You can use his irl" Valon folded his arift is unique But you … you're a nuisance I can find another warrior, one with less fight"

"Won't break my heart not to be vamped," she replied

Valon drew even closer Confident she could fight him now that at least one of her senses had a firaze head on, waiting to see what it was he wanted

"How do you fight for Jonny? I know Xander I knoouldn't agree to this"

"I'm here for my brother," she replied "Give him back, and Xander won't have a reason to hunt you down and rip your skin off"

Valon's scrutiny washer uncomfortable It wasn't the look of a va his eneht to askelse She hadn't expected him to be able to befuddle her senses to the extent he did

"I smell him on you," he said pensively He appeared less pleased by this than the mention of Xander "You aren't just his food, are you?"

Ashley's anger surged The ansas too complicated for her to understand herself let alone explain to so business," she replied

"I didn't expect this," Valon said "I didn't expect Jonny to be so cold as to send in so to take ave him credit for"