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Rane cut a narrow slice of cake, speared a piece with a fork, and offered it to Savanah

Feeling a little self-conscious, she accepted his offering

“And now, please join me in a toast,” Vince said “Rafe, if you please”

Rafe opened a bottle of wine and after everyone had been given a glass, Vince lifted his “To Rane and Savanah May they enjoy a long and healthy life together”

Rane grinned at his father as echoes of “Here, here” rose in the air “Thanks, Dad”

Vince set his glass aside and slipped his arood care of her, son”

Rane winked at Savanah “That’s my plan”

Vince wrapped his other arhter, you coht”

“I’ll do that,” Savanah said with a smile

Later, when the initial excite rooet Mara alone

“I’ve been wanting to ask you so her voice low “I ondering…that is, Rane said you ht know the name of the Vampire who killed my mother”

“What makes you think she was killed by one of us?” Mara asked with some asperity

“My father told me,” Savanah replied, so Vaht your mother across, but he’s not the one who destroyed her”

Savanah stared at Mara “If he didn’t do it, then who did?”

“Are you sure you want to know?”

“Of course,” Savanah said, frowning “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Solanced at Rane, as standing across the roo to his brother, and felt a sudden iciness creep into her heart What if Rane had lied to her? What if he had killed her mother? She told herself it was iive his, but not that Never that

“Yes,” she said, her voice little more than a whisper “I want to know”

“It was your father who destroyed your lass “No” She shook her head “No! I don’t believe you”

“It’s true, nonetheless,” Mara said

“How could you even think such a thing?”

“I know everything that happens in my world,” Mara said “Your father destroyed your ed him to do it, and he could not refuse her”