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"Jack?" Matthew’s voice was hoarse

"Master Roydon?" Without turning, Jack cocked his head to the side as Matthew’s voice penetrated the black haze of the blood rage His grip loosened

I drew in a lungful of air, struggling to push back the star-filled darkness My hand went instinctively topoke, then another Lobero sniffed at ure out rowled at Matthew

"Is this another dream?" There was a trace of the lost child he had once been in his bass voice, and Jack squeezed his eyes shut rather than risk waking up

"It’s no drealass said softly "Step away froer to his mate"

"Oh, God I touched her" Jack sounded horrified Slowly he turned and held up his hands in surrender, willing to accept whatever punishment Matthe fit toto norry So as the blood rage resurfacing?

"Hush," I said, gently lowering his arm "You’ve touched me a thousand times Matthew doesn’t care"

"I wasn’tthisbefore" Jack’s voice was taut with self-loathing

Matthe closer slowly so as not to startle Jack Andrew Hubbard slammed the car door and followed hie the London vampire famous for his priestly ways and his brood of adopted creatures of all species and ages He looked the same: clean-shaven, pale of face, and blond of hair Only Hubbard’s slate-colored eyes and so provided notes of contrast to his otherwise pallid appearance And his body was still tall and thin, with slightly stooped, broad shoulders

As the two va and his lips peeled back from his teeth

"Come, Lobero," Matthew co considered his options

"He’s a one-," Hubbard warned "The only creature he’ll listen to is Jack"

Lobero’s wet nose pushed into ’s muzzle lifted to take in the other scents before he nized Father Hubbard, but Matthew received a h, Lobero’s tail shifted fro had instinctively acknowledged the alpha in this pack

"Good boy" Matthew stood and pointed to his heel Lobero obediently swung around and followed as Matthew joined Jack, Gallowglass, and ht, mon coeur?" Matthew murmured

"Of course," I said, still a bit short of breath

"And you, Jack?" Matthew rested a hand on Jack’s shoulder It was not the typical de Cler separation--a father who feared that his child had been through hell

"I’m better now," Jack could always be relied upon to tell the truth when asked a direct question "I overreact when I’htened a fraction "I’ ever to see you again"

"It’s beendifficult To stay away" The faint vibration in Jack’s voice suggested it had been o inside and you can tell us your tale?" This was not a casual invitation; Mattheas asking Jack to bare his soul Jack looked worried at the prospect

"What you say is your choice, Jack," Matthew assured hio inside while you do it Your latest Lobero is no quieter than your first He’ll have the neighbors calling the police if he keeps barking"

Jack nodded

Matthew’s head cocked to the side The gesture made hione? I don’t have to crouch down any tension left Jack’s body with Matthew’s gentle teasing He grinned shyly and scratched Lobero’s ears

"Father Hubbard will colass, and park it so the road?" Matthew asked

Gallowglass held out his hand, and Hubbard put the keys into it

"There’s a briefcase in the trunk," Hubbard said "Bring it back with you"

Gallowglass nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line He gave Hubbard a blistering look before stalking toward the car

"He never has liked htened the lapels on his austere black jacket, which he wore over a black shirt Even after more than six hundred years, the vampire re my presence for the first time "Mistress Roydon"

"My name is Bishop" I wanted to rereement that he’d made--and broken, based on the evidence before e, multicolored eyes narrowed

"You didn’t keep your proitated stare settled on my neck

"What promise?" Jack demanded fro but I’d forgotten he was now gifted with preternatural senses, too

"I swore that I’d take care of you and Annie for Mistress Roydon," Hubbard said

"Father Hubbard kept his word, mistress," Jack said quietly "I wouldn’t be here otherwise"

"And we’re grateful to hi but He tossed , and without its contents I had no way to open the door

Hubbard caught them instead and turned the key in the lock

"Take Lobero upstairs and get him some water, Jack The kitchen’s on the first floor" Matthew plucked the keys frorasp as he went past and put them in a bowl on the hall table

Jack called to Lobero and obediently started up the worn, painted treads