Page 82 (1/2)

It was over

Benjaer torh broken, was alive

After Benja seemed to happen at once Ysabeau pulled the va for Marcus and checking on his injuries Verin and Gallowglass and Hamish burst into the room Fernando followed soon thereafter

I stood in front of Matthew and cradled his head againsthim from further har him alive

"We need to uise his urgency He put his hand around the spike, ready to take my place

"Don’t let her see uttural His skeletal hand twitched on the arm of the chair in protest, but it was not able to doyou Not like this"

With nearly every inch of Matthew’s body injured, there were precious few places I could touch him that wouldn’t coed flesh glealow cast by and dropped a kiss as soft as down on the tip of his nose

Unsure if he could hearthat his eyes were swollen shut, I lethi that he had registered my proximity Even that little movement made him wince, and I had to steel myself not to cry out at what Benjamin had done to him

"You can’t hide frooddess that my words reached him "I see you, Matthew And you will always be perfect in s unable to expand fully because of the pressure from broken ribs With a herculean effort, Matthew cracked one eye open It was filmed over with blood, the pupil shot wide and enore and traue, as though he feared that the darkness signaled his death "Why is it so dark?"

"It’s all right Look" I blew on old star appeared on the tip of ht our way"

It was a risk, and I knew it He ht not be able to see the small ball of fire, and then his panic would only increase Matthew peered at ht cahtened a tiny an

His next breath was less ragged as his anxiety subsided

"He needs blood," Baldwin said, keeping his voice level and low

I tried to push er, which Mattheas staring at fixedly

"Not yours," Ysabeau said, stilling ain It was like watching Jack struggle to rein in his e"

"Not here," Gallowglass agreed, giving my husband back some small measure of control

"Let his brothers take care of hilass, Fernando, Baldwin, and Ha while Marcus held the iron spike in place

"My blood is strong, Diana," Ysabeau prohtly "It will heal him"

I nodded But I had told Matthew the truth earlier: In my eyes he would always be perfect His outounds didn’t matter to me It was the wounds to his heart, mind, and soul that had me worried, for no amount of vampire blood could heal those

"Love and tiure out the co from a distance as the o hold of one of the cars that aiting for us "That’s what he needs"

Janet ca hand on my shoulder

"Matthew Clairmont is an ancient va love and tih the water-bearer’s sign, it betokens great fortune, faithful friends, and the aide of princes Therefore, do not feare changes that take place when Aquarius ruleth the earth

40

Matthew said only one word on the flight: "Home"

We arrived in France six days after the events in Chelm Matthew still couldn’t walk He wasn’t able to use his hands Nothing remained in his stomach for more than thirtythe crushed bones, daans After being initially unconscious due to a cos, pain, and exhaustion, he now refused to close his eyes to rest

And he hardly ever spoke When he did, it was usually to refuse so

"No," he said e turned toward Sept-tours "Our hoe of options, I told Marcus to take us to Les Revenants It was a strangely fitting naiven its present owner, for Matthew had returned hohost than man after what Benjamin had done to him

No one had dreamed that Mattheould prefer Les Revenants to Sept-Tours, and the house was cold and lifeless e arrived He sat in the foyer with Marcus while his brother and I raced around lighting fires andwhich rooiven his present physical limitations when the convoy of cars from Sept-Tours filled the courtyard Not even the vaer to see us My aunt knelt in front of Matthew Her face was soft with compassion and concern

"You look like hell," she said

"Feel worse" Matthew’s once-beautiful voice was harsh and grating, but I treasured every terse word

"When Marcus says it’s okay, I’d like to put a salve on your skin that will help you heal," Sarah said, touching the raw skin on his forearry baby split the air

"Becca" My heart leaped at the prospect of seeing the twins again But Matthew did not seem to share my happiness

"No" Matthew’s eyes ild, and he shook from head to toe "No Not now Not like this"

Since Benjamin had taken control of Matthew’s mind and body, I insisted that now Mattheas free he should be allowed to set the terms of his own daily existence and even his medical treatment But this I would not allow I scooped Rebecca out of Ysabeau’s arms, kissed her smooth cheek, and dropped the baby into the crook of Matthew’s elbow

The

The hter in his arht she was born My eyes filled at his terrified, awestruck expression

"Good thinking," Sarah ave me the once-over "You look like hell, too"