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"‘I a of the Sky,’" I read froh the pores of the ocean and shores,’" Matthehispered "‘I change, but I cannot die’"

After Haradually expanded Jack was invited to join Matthew and to bring his cello with him He played Beethoven for hours on end, and not only did the ly put , but he still had a long way to go When he rested fitfully, I dozed at his side and hoped that the babies wouldn’t stir He let h he hated hiht I couldn’t endure another le, I focused on so scars that I prayed would heal in time Like the shadows of Chelm, I knew they would never fully disappear

When Sarah came to see him, her worry was palpable But Mattheas not the cause of her concern

"How ht?" Accusto with bat-eared vampires, she had waited until I walked her to the car before she asked

"I’ the car door for her

"That wasn’t my question I can see you’re fine That’s orries me," Sarah said "Why aren’t you at death’s door?"

"It doesn’ther question

"It hen you collapse," Sarah retorted "You can’t possibly keep this up"

"You forget, Sarah: The Bishop-Clairmont family specializes in the i protests

I should have known that my aunt would not be silenced so easily Baldwin showed up twenty-four hours after her departure--uninvited and unannounced

"This is a bad habit of yours," I said, thinking back to the moment he’d returned to Sept-Tours and stripped the sheets froh wards on this house to repel the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse"

"They haven’t been spotted in Lih died" Baldwin kissedtime in between tovisitors today," I said, drawing away "He had a difficult night"

"I’le eyes oncare of yourself, I will put e here"

"You have no--"

"Oh, but I do You are my sister Your husband is not able to look after your welfare at the moment

Look after it yourself or accept the consequences" Baldwin’s voice was implacable

The two of us faced off in silence for a few hed when I refused to break my stare

"It’s really quite simple, Diana If you collapse--and based on your scent, I’d say you have a week at most before that happens--Matthew’s instincts will demand that he try to protect his mate That will distract him from his primary job, which is to heal"

Baldwin had a point

"The best way to handle a vae like Matthew--is to give him no reason to think you need any protection Take care of yourself--first and always," Baldwin said

"Seeing you healthy and happy will do Matthew ood, mentally and physically, than his maker’s blood or Jack’s lad" Baldwin’s mouth lifted into a smile "Answer your e-es You don’t answer It’s aggravating"

I nodded, afraid that if I opened my mouth, detailed instructions on just what he could do with his e-reat hall to check on Matthew He pronounced hi, warfare, or other brotherly pursuits Then, mercifully, he left

Dutifully I opened regation de me orders

I lowered the lid on my cohts after Baldwin’s visit, I woke to the sensation of a cold finger jerking against my spine as it traced the trunk of the tree on er moved in barely controlled fits and starts to oddess’s arrow and the star left by Satu J&auon that encircled ain

"I needed the first thing I touched to be you," he said, realizing he’d awakened me

I was barely able to breathe, and any response on my part was out of the question But ic rose withinphrases under my skin

"The price of power" Matthew’s hand circledthe words as they appeared The rew smoother and steadier with every pass over es in me since I’d become but never mentioned them until now

"So ers delved, parted , but his touch was still faly to the places that brought me the most pleasure