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"What?" Carwyn turned his attention back to the other vampire "Of course they are That’s e need to find, isn’t it?"

He aving a hand "Forget the ger They’ve made copies I know Livia She’s made copies of copies if she thinks it’s valuable Which means that it’s also been stolen by someone by now If information is valuable, then it will be stolen It’s practically part of natural law"

"So this drug--"

"Finally!" Lucien threw up his hands "So! Not the elixir of life For sos their proper names Elixir implies that it’s a cure of some kind And it’s not Well…" He frowned and shook his head "It’s a kind of cure, in a way…"

Carwyn frowned as Lucien drifted off It was odd Hisabout Lucien spoke of confusion, which was unheard of Ihtest huenerated spurred faster processing, better memories, and far better reflexes All that Lucien seeranates," Lucien whispered as he stared into the cold fireplace "Did I tell you she sranates? Like fruit ripe in the sun, Carwyn Do you remember that smell? And the smell of sunshine? Even with the sickness, she still smelled so sweet Tasted… She tasted like the sweetest honey"

Was Lucien talking about his lover? The one he had drunk fro about?"

"Silly inning to grow in Carwyn’s chest "Are you talking about this drug? How it ht you felt unwell"

"Now I do But at first…" Lucien’s eyes glowed "Drinking her blood od"

Vatican City

June 2012

Arturo was running late But then, this was a last- that Carwyn had called, so he couldn’t really blame the human He wasn’t dressed in his clerical uniform this time He wore black jeans and a black T-shirt with sturdy boots He hadn’t shaved instubble cast a dark shadow on his face He knew he looked like one of Terry’s ruffians, but the gri Ro to plunge hi life He and Giovanni would have to find two vampires ere supposed to have died hundreds of years before The fiercest kings of the ancient world It was so far frohable The plan was madness--sheer, utter madness

But it was the only way to learn the absolute truth about the origins of this drug

If he survived, he was grabbing hold of Brigid Connor and never letting go