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Crossing the room, I closed the doors and latched them, then jumped in the shower As the hot water ran down y had dissipated Once I finished, I quickly dressed in board shorts and a tank top and driedroo TV was Phin Dupré, Chaz’s head resting in his lap Both glanced up as I walked into the roouess you’re the new babysitter, huh?" I asked, although I already knew the answer I lanced at the TV I looked at Phin and lifted a brow "The Lost Boys?" I asked, noting the eighties cult vaave a cocky s awesorinned, and it strucka cult vampire movie "Yeah, it is" I wanted to ask where Eli was, but I didn’t I kept it toto happen would happen Like I said before--I wasn’t the crying-over-spilled-irl

"So yeah, I’m the new babysitter," he said, then scrubbed Chaz between the ears and stood I glared at , whose only response to ainst the sofa cushion

"What’d you do, brainwash s love me," Phin said, and moved toward me He cocked his head and crossed his arms over his chest "What’d you do to piss off Eli?" Before I could answer, realization crossed his features "Ah--neverin French that sounded soarded ain "Damn"

"Look," I said, and turned directly to Eli’s brother "I don’t knohat’s going on here, but I have to have a gaed from before, just tell me--"

"It hasn’t," Phin said "Not exactly"

I slid my flip-flops on "What does that ," he said, "at Eli’s urging Mainly for safety purposes"

As I let that congeal in , and Eli had known it "Great Va me to kill vaht we’ll run the streets a little, and to with a few others, if you’re up to it This tiood to h the void Eli had left suddenly see, then walked to the door "Come on, Chaz--"

"I already walked him"

I stopped and did not look back "My control over ness," I said "I can’t even walkanymore" I walked to the door and let myself out, Phin directly on my heels

"Sorry," he said as we made our way to Preacher’s

"Not your fault," I said, although I wanted it to be someone’s fault

As we crossed the cobbles to Da Plat Eye, Phin leaned close "So, Riley," he began casually "What’s the story on your friend Nyx?" He chuckled "She’s pretty hot"

I snapped a glare at him "Don’t even think it, porcupine"

Phin rubbed his close-cut hair and grinned "I’h forty-five minutes of a wicked stink eye from Preacher man--we left I needed some air, so I took Chaz for a walk down the riverfront and conteht, and was glad as hell he wasn’t around to listen in

The day was overcast, with a residue of last night’s rain clinging to the air, as I walked by the river, Chaz at my side The bricks et and dark frohtest breeze shifted the thick, ar-praline scent from River Street Sweets wafted by, but I discovered that even that simple pleasure didn’t sit ithpictures of the Savannah River Queen--an old-time riverboat--and the storefronts Most businesses were closed on Sundays; the others opened up later in the day, so only a few people were out and about, which was fine withwith anyone--not even a total stranger

My thoughts returned to earlier, at Preacher’s, where Phin had gone over very little of what I’d be learning while in training I already kne to fight; that was a plus He said I’d learn the rest from his papa at the House of Dupré Preacher had looked hard at me, then stated that two of his boys would remain at the house with me at all times Seemed kind of silly; if a house of vampires decided to take me--one little ol’ mortal--down, I’m pretty sure they could do it, and no one would be able to stop theht, I’d trust the Duprés now Really--we had no choice I had no choice My life for Seth’s? Hell yes, in a second

Returning ho into a pair of black Lycra yoga pants, a white ribbed tank, and a pair of black Adidas workout shoes, I tightened my ponytail, left my apartment with Phin, and headed to the House of Dupré Adirectly into a house of vaain

Part 8