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Sensing an escape, she answered, "Yes This see out"

He smiled "Normally, yes They love the tourist women But I think so many of them were drawn to Istanbul when you were there, they rounds I haven’t seen a single one since we’ve been here"

"And ould you do if you saw one here?"

"Kill it"

The flat certainty in his voice chilled her "But how… They’re like you Not exactly, but didn’t you say--"

"The Grigoriago They are predators We are protectors Once, the Irin helped hue and secrets until it becaer wanted, ithdrew The Grigori continued to feed Now our job is to stop the It is the only e can still serve the huuide and protect"

Ava’s back stiffened "You act like humans are inferior"

"Not inferior Different"

"I’h "No You’re not"

She stood up and glared at him "My mother is Lena Matheson A human woman My father is Jasper Reed A man I am human However this happened to me, I’m still human"

Irritation colored his voice "Ava--"

"Do you think I’m inferior?"

"Of course I don’t!"

"Then why--?"

"Why are you trying to start a fight?"

It brought her up short What was she doing? She knew Malachi didn’t see her as an inferior If anything, she felt like he put her on so pedestal He stood and brushed off his slacks, slowly straightening his clothes before he et tired of you? Walk away?"

He turned with a glare and started toward the pathhile Ava stood frozen in the sand, the ocean breeze unable to warm the chill that reached toward her heart as she watched him retreat Just before he reached the stairs, he turned and held out a hand

"You can piss et rid of h, his hand curled around hers She sed the lump in her throat as he carefully ushered her up the steps

"I want to go back to the house," she said as they reached the path along the main road "I know you’re mad at me--"