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“I think so”

“But why?” Savanah frowned The possibility that the killer was a wo an affair she didn’t know about? Had the two of theht out of hand She was grabbing at straws, hoping to explain ahat she kneas the truth In her heart, she knew a Vampire had killed her father, just as Rane had said “Why?” It was a question she couldn’t seeot a pretty good idea”

She stared up at hi with tears “I don’t understand any of this,” she said, sniffling “Why would anyone want to kill him? He was old and crippled and…”

“Shh” Raneif she would accept comfort from him

She didn’t move when he wrapped his arms around her Ramrod stiff, she stood in his embrace while tears ran down her cheeks and then, with a sob, she collapsed against him, warm and soft and vulnerable

He held her a moment, then lifted her into his ar a seat, he cradled her to his chest

“I should be trying to kill you,” she said, sniffling

“I give you leave to try later”

She laughed through her tears He took that for a good sign

“I’ to hurt you, Savanah, I swear it”

“I don’t think I care”

He chuckled softly “Hey, talk like that’s going to give Va her eyes with the back of her hand “I just wanther to his touch She was vulnerable now, ripe for the taking, but as he held her, he caht in his own trap, and that in theher, he had lost his own heart instead Anyone who tried to harh hiht of his first kill, he had punished himself for what he was, for the lives he had taken He had adhered to the mores of traditional Va inside a coffin, refusing to stir until sundown, even though there was no need Like his brother, he could function during the day, undoubtedly a benefit of having a mortal woman for a mother, and a father who had been turned by the world’s oldest Vah he could be awake and active, he didn’t have the power to walk in the sun’s light Years ago, Mara had offered to share her blood with hiht from the source, so to speak, he would now be able to withstand the sun’s light, at least for short periods of time, but he had refused her

“Why?” she had asked “Why would you deny yourself so great a gift?”

“Because,” he had replied succinctly “I don’t deserve it”

“What foolishness is that?”

“I’ in the darkness, and that’s where I’ll stay”

Mara hadn’t tried to change his mind He was sorry now that she hadn’t persuaded hiypt, no doubt resting in the earth of her hoet in touch with her Da soaze rested on the shriveled skin on the side of his face and neck She had done that to hier and frustration

“Does it still hurt?” she asked, surprised that his cheek wasn’t still raw and red

“Oh, yeah”