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Jade had begun to make coffee

To Stephanie’s a intensely to one another, but not with hostility Grant see to what Lucien had to say

Jade flashed Stephanie a sive one another if their husbands had nearly coa, and it had been prevented

Lucien and Grant were seated at the dining table Stephanie realized that they were talking about the dig

"I believe that the earthquake caused either François de Venue or Valeria to be released," Lucien said

"They o, but the recent shift caused them to be freed As I said--one, or the other, or both I felt it when it happened--and it was right after that, when I was reading Variety, that I saw the advertise to work indefinitely in Italy"

"Reggie put the ads out," Stephanie said, piping up "And Reggie… well, she was around way before the last earthquake"

Lucien dru her words

"Wait a minute," Grant said to Lucien "You said that you felt it when it happened What did you feel?"

"I have an extra… sense, I guess you’d say I can usually feel it when there’s a real rise of evil I can usually pick out another vampire from miles away But with this… I only felt the… rise And a threat A real threat"

"So what does that ing the coffeepot and a handful of cups to the table, "that there’s more involved than just a vampire"

"Just a vampire," Stephanie repeated She accepted coffee fro her head "I’m sorry, but…"

Lucien turned back to Grant "Valeria had so to do iccans, today or yesterday, I assure you But a witch, as in the fact that she ca line of women with unearthly powers What happened then was that François de Venue beca the Crusades, conquering native populations elsewhere, I’m not certain The point is--he had a certain power of his own Itto history, at least--she very nearly h Instead, she rode with François de Venue The legends have it that she could raise the wind, bring fog and rain, and create an ars?" Stephanie heard herself ask She gave herself a shake She was listening to this

She shouldn’t

But the two see as if this were all so par for the course!

And despite herself…

She couldn’t forget the way Grant had been

She couldn’t forget her own dreaet how she had felt, finding herself on a precipice, not at all sure hohy she had gotten there

She had been stirring sugar into her coffee She realized that her hands were shaking She set down her cup

"Devil dogs, or de at Lucien

He looked at her and Grant She realized that Lucien’s eyes were really red and gold She had always noted his eyes Always noted a way about hiility hich hedifferent about hi all of this

And yet… with everything else…

Why not?

She found herself staring at Grant, as looking back at her She realized that, after his initial disdain, he was listening

Maybe he was too willing to believe He had a hardened look about his jaw As if…

Al vindicated, and ht have a direction in which to go A sense of war her spine Whatever she had said or done, no s had been, she realized, he’d always been willing to fight for her No matter how she’d rejected him, he’d come back

She forced her eyes back to Lucien and Jade

"Do you knohat they were talking about--devil dogs?" she asked

Jade deferred to Lucien He shook his head "Not olves," he murmured

"Werewolves," Grant said flatly "They exist?"

"Yes," Lucien said "As a matter of fact--before you make a joke--one of my best friends and closest associates is a olf"

Stephanie glanced at Grant He looked back

Okay, maybe this is all insane, his look see that the witch--or sorceress--Valeria is able to raise But where she gets them, or what they are, exactly, I don’t know," Lucien said "Jade has been studying all the old texts she can get her hands on to find out more about them, but…"

Grant shook his head suddenly "Okay, let’s say that François de Venue was released from whatever tomb or prison the earth had held him in He killed Maria Britto, and Gema Let’s say he even played with Lena, and probably Suzette If he’s a vampire, with all this power--and certainly, Maria’s body was torn to shreds--why hasn’t he just gone crazy? Why didn’t he kill Lena outright? Or Suzette? And if the police came after him, assumably, he could make quick work of the police"