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Eli touched et my attention and e of his hand, asking me why I hadn’t beheaded him We were still deaf from the weapon fire and I mouthed, Prisoner To question Eli frowned as if he didn’t think that was such a good idea and started checking over the injured hu the last one Actually, I didn’t think it was a good idea either, but I needed info on the Naturaleza, and one of Silandre’s goons ive it to me

While Eli made sure Esmee was okay and led her to the doorway of the rooe, and to send a cleanup crew to the house and another one to the woods where we had left the other body Vamps didn’t want medical professionals to have access to vaenetic otten hold of a true-dead vamp corpse, but onaround that I figured at least one va and into their clutches Rick had been on scene so it stood to reason that soists had carved one up Not that I hadsmarter I also texted the Kid to tell him we had Esmee and that she was unhurt

Es that I’d forgotten to keep aware oftoo dependent on Eli for backup I put my phone away and led the tiny older woman outside It was testament to the political power of the vamps Under the Hill--or to Bruiser and Leo’s helpful interference--that no sirens had sounded despite the gunfire I put her in the backseat of the SUV, where she sat, silent, staring down at her wrists Thoughand hers had to be even worse, I tapped her wrist above where it had been abraded by the rope that had bound her

Es ot those boys killed"

I knew about guilt I knew about guilt that was richly deserved and guilt that was ories "Miss Esmee, what you three did was utterly crazy You three, Eli, and I could have died tonight because of your ill-conceived and ill-thought-out vaun to their heads and forced theainst their wills, and then drove them here under threat of death, you are not ultimately responsible for the actions or the current state of health of two grown men"

"I should have known better" She stroked her wrist and flinched at a tender place "I never saw a vaht we’d just bust in and shoot ’e humans Case closed But there weren’t any huuns like ere babies Just plucked the with tears "We were tied up so fast And we could hear Bubba crying" She blotted her cheek "Is he going to die?"

I looked at Eli coh the door, Bubba’s arot out and watched as Buddy and Eli helped the injuredthe door "He probably needs a transfusion"

"I ain’t gonna take no blood," Bubba said, his lips blue and his head lolling "I ay o to hell"

Eli’s broent up and I turned so no one could see rin "I think he ay is contagious"

"Our preacher says it can be spread just like any other disease," Buddy said

"Your preacher a doctor?" Eli asked, and started the engine, leaving it running with the heater on full "No Your preacher’s an idiot"

"No blood," Bubba said

"And you’re an idiot too But have it your way" Eli went around to the back of the SUV and tossed ht "Silver restraints for your captive"