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"Well, there’s a new guy in charge and I have a very good feeling he’d tell you to tell ht vampire skin couldn’t be penetrated Hoas Vlad staked?"

Riley frowned, hesitated, but eventually said, "Did you hear me tell Aden that e tattoo wards on the vampires, we have to prep the needle with a little je la nune first? That’s what allows the ink to penetrate It’s the sa You cover a blade in je la nune and stab the heart The poison an"

"Maybe he heals faster and fro to the side, Riley stood there for a long while, silent, pensive, grihed and held out his hand "There’s one way to verify this"

She shook her head, already knohat he planned "Feel free to go alone"

"No way Let’s go check the crypt"

Her eyes widened "A very ht be down there That’s dangerous, and I’er Remember?"

"You’re ers "Afterward, we’ll go back to the cabin, find out whether Aden has left the witch’s body and whether he learned anything"

And if he hadn’t? she wanted to ask, but didn’t Ti not to let nerves overwhelnificant tomorroas What better way to distract herself than to pay a visit to old Vlad? Athe now, she took Riley’s hand and he pulled her upright Why did he want her to go with him, anyway? The real reason, and not the "capable" crap he’d spouted Riley was a protector first, and a flatterer second Because he still didn’t believe Vlad was alive? Because he wanted to prove to her that Tucker had lied to her?

Instead of leading her out the room, he dropped her hand What, she was supposed to walk behind hiood little inferior human? She was not disappointed--except that she was very disappointed Only, he didn’t leave He strode to his closet and dug out a coat, then wrapped that coat around her, pulling her hair from underneath Okay, she really wasn’t disappointed anymore

He reclaimed her hand "Just…stay behind me and do what I tell you, when I tell you Got it?"

"Got it But I’m really not a diet into a debate right now"

Funny They strode into the hall Going from Riley’s normal bedroom to the all-black hallas a bit of a shock, but she soon grew used to the drab surroundings The black walls, the black s, the violent tapestries, the swirling circles--wards--etched on everything

"Do you think Tucker plans on a us?" Even as she asked, she deduced the answer If he thought that was a possibility, he wouldn’t take her Unless he wanted her to see Tucker’s "evil" firsthand She barely stopped herself fro her eyes "Never mind Don’t answer Just listen I Want To Survive I won’t do anything to place er"

"Good Because your survival is oal, too"

See? A protector

Two vampires, both female and pretty, suddenly snaked a corner Both slowed their steps, giving Riley a long, lingering look, practically eating hiirls He was just too hot for his own good

He waved to them with his free hand Apparently, they interpreted that wave as an invitation to chat because they ho Mary Ann a glance

"Riley," the brunette said, tone heavy with fa flirtatiously

I’ry Really Mary Ann’s time with hi for a giant bucket of vairls, so…" Riley tried to slide around the Mary Ann with him, but the brunette jumped in his path

"Not so fast, wolf I have business to discuss with you"

"Draven," he said on a sigh "Not now Please"

Draven A pretty yet dissolute nael, yet there was so

"I’ll only take a second," the vaht now"

He nodded stiffly, and his grip tightened on Mary Ann "Very well What do you wish to discuss?"

She lifted her chin, all attitude and self-confidence "As you knoas one of the feain, wary this tie"

"You wish to be king yourself?" Riley laughed, suddenly relaxing "Good luck with that Now, if you’ll--"