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The woed out of her jacket and sat down on the sofa, waiting

Roshan sat beside her, his ar around her shoulders

Confusion flickered in the wolanced at the pulse throbbing in the hollow of her throat A deep breath filled his nostrils with the scent of vibrant life "No, Tiffany, not at all" He stroked her cheek "Close your eyes, "

The sound of his voice soothed her She closed her eyes Her head fell back across his arertips over her skin, then bent down, his tongue laving the sensitive skin below her ear

She sighed as his teeth grazed her skin She moaned with pleasure as he took what he needed, made a soft sound of protest when he lifted his head

"Don't stop" She put her hand behind his head, drawing hiain "Don't stop"

He closed his eyes, fighting the urge to take what she offered, to drink her life, all of it Past, present, and future To drink and drink until he was replete, sated

But she was the sole support of her family To deprive her of her life would be to conderandmother to a life of poverty He knew too hat that was like

"Not tonight, et et any of this happened"

She looked up at hih eyes that were filled with sorrow "I don't want to forget"

"I know" His gaze trapped hers, his h her et," he said quietly

A tear rolled down her cheek and then her expression went blank AWhen the wo that had happened after she left the nightclub

Whistling softly, he went home

He paused on the front steps, his head tilted back to look up at the stars wheeling high overhead Eternity dwelled there, beyond the white expanse of the Milky Way Howthe hereafter, wondering what awaited him should death find him? In the course of his existence, he had killed countless times, sometimes in self-defense, sometimes because the temptation to drink his fill was more than he could withstand Would he be called to answer for all the lives he had taken, or just those he had taken because he was too weak to resist? Would he writhe in the fla hell forever, or was there redemption even for one such as he? He had not asked for the Dark Gift Would he be punished for what he had done to survive?

He blew out a sigh He regretted the lives he had taken Not long ago, he had considered ending his own existence, but then he had found Brenna She had addedto look forward to when the moon chased the sun from the sky

A shift in the wind carried her scent to him He turned toward herAn errant breeze carried the fragrance of her hair, her skin, her very being