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"Okay I’ll be here"

He leaned down and pressed a swift kiss to her lips, then strode up the rest of the steps and into the cabin, leaving her alone Suddenly feeling just as weary as he’d sounded, she settled on the botto on her upraised palold spots in her line of vision, and the air warhts skidded to a halt as, in the distance, lihtened, gaze ho in Soon, a familiar face and form came into view A boy A football player Tucker, her ex He lifted a hand in a brief wave

Mary Ann was on her feet before she realized she’dShe raced to hi he wouldn’t bolt The closer she came to him, the more clearly she saw him He was so pallid she could see the blue tracery of veins beneath his skin When they’d dated, he’d been beautifully tanned Now his face was gaunt, as if he’d lost weight His sandy hair was matted to his head, and his clothes rinkled and stained, ill-fitting Torn, as if he’d recently been in a fight

Thedistance, she saw the scars Small, round, side by side Punctures Froer scabs, as they should have been, since very little time had passed since he’d been served up as an hors d’oeuvre at the Vampire Ball, but already scars On his neck, his arms, even his face No, wait There was a fresh pair of punctures on his neck, beads of blood still leaking

Not so long ago, she’d hated this boy for cheating on her Then she’d seen him strapped to a table, near death Her hate had drained, pity and fear taking their place Just then, that pity and fear intensified

"Tucker," she said "How did you find us? And what are you doing here? You should be in a hospital right now"

"No No, I have to warn you" He grabbed her by the wrist and jerked her deep into the forest, so deep the trees hid the to speak He stilled, closed his eyes, pressed his lips together A sotten hoonderful I would feel, being this close to you again"

She gripped his shoulders and shook hi on, Tucker? What do you have to warn ive me a minute" His eyes reet you alone again, but here you are Here I ained"

He radiated such bliss, she couldn’t deny hi with the force of her curiosity and dread One minute passed, two Three, four An eternity

Finally, blessedly, his eyes opened He frowned "I shouldn’t be here," he said "He’ll probably punish hed without humor "Probably? He’ll destroy me, no question"

"Who, Tucker? Talk to ht as well just tell you, right? It’s…" A bea the dark circles under his eyes,dead "It’s…Vlad" His voice dipped into a tortured whisper

"Vlad?" Her brow crinkled in confusion "Vlad’s dead"

He shook his head "Not anymore He’s very much alive He called me while I was in the hospital"

"Like, on the phone?"

"No Inside my head He called round, in a crypt behind the vampire mansion"

"Tucker, I--"

"No Listen He wantedAnd I--I did Have Will He’s angry right now, Mary Ann Very, very angry, and all of that anger is directed at Aden for daring to take his throne" Tucker’s gaze darkened "I don’t knohat Vlad will do to him, and I don’t knohat he’ll command me to do, but you should know that I’ll do it, whatever it is I won’t be able to help myself"

"This is--this is--"

"True"

The i And, she thought, alile state ofon They’ll--"

"No No" He jerked froo near them Not while they can see me, at least"

"Tucker, please They won’t hurt you" She wouldn’t let the Vlad has said to you Everything he’s asked you to do and everything you’ve told hiave another shake of his head "You don’t understand When I’ood Normal Happy I can control s"

"I’ll be with you I won’t leave your side I swear!"

"Doesn’t matter Not when you’re with them"

"Tucker Please"

"I’m sorry, Mary Ann So sorry Consider yourself warned" He turned on his heel and ran off as fast as his feet would carry him

TWENTY-FIVE