Page 30 (1/2)

"Who the hell is Mattheus?" Roland gruot screwed?" Tracy said "That sucks He’s so hot"

"Who’s Mattheus?" Sheldon seconded

"He’s an immortal froht was co sex--"

"Awesorin

Everyone looked at him

"What? I like porn"

Still they stared

He frowned "I have to give up booze, parties, and porn? Can’t a Second have any vices?"

Chris sighed "Anyway She videotaped the sex and intended to auction it off to news outlets once it had been authenticated by an expert ould swear the glowing eyes, fangs, andahunusual speed and other things demonstrated were not special effects produced by a post-production house"

"Maybe they were," Sheldon suggested somberly "Maybe she was out to discredit him I think we should all watch it and--"

"The tape has been destroyed," Seth cut in

"Daaze "Anytiet rid of him"

Richart shook his head "He a to the subject at hand

At the opposite end of the table, David nodded "We have seen it countless times This is a lonely existence that can sometimes drive us to trust where we should not"

"Chris," Seth continued, "perhaps if you allowed the immortal to be present when you er feel wary of your possible treatment of her"

"Or him," Lisette tossed in

Etienne raised his eyebrows

"What? I can’t date?"

"Fine," Chris said "If any of you acquire a lover hom you wish to share the truth, you can be present when I meet with her But I do need topresent or listening in from the next room, all the better"

When no one spoke, Seth spoke for them "They’ll take it into consideration" The casual words carried the weight of an order "Is that all, Chris?"

"For now, yes"

Seth turned to Etienne "So?"

"So?" he repeated

David leaned forward and braced his elbows on the table "Tell us what happened last night"

Etienne hesitated He wasn’t sure how to tell theht it best to miniht her reference to their hunting together They had all been too titillated by the idea that he had been hiding away a girlfriend

Which, as she had pointed out, was not to say that Krysta was his girlfriend

You’re ralance Much to his surprise, the elder immortal seemed amused No, I’ to hts? he deer than that

No, just us, David answered

Go ahead and tell theleaned it

Etienne leaned forward and braced his elbows on the table "I was out hunting with Krysta--"

"Wait," Chris interrupted "You two really do hunt together?"

Etienne looked at Krysta, who shrugged "In a "

Chris threw up his hands "Okay Another point of business Most of the immortals at this table are at least a hundred years old, so I didn’t think I had to remind any of you of this, but you cannot recruit your own Seconds All Seconds hly vets and trains them What the hell, Etienne?"

Now Krysta leaned forward "I’ at once, Etienne held up a hand "Krysta ca and saw several va upon her Much to my surprise, however, the vampires turned out to be the prey Krysta is a vampire hunter"

"No way!" Sheldon blurted

Etienne scowled at hian to follow her" As swiftly as possible, he caught them up on his adventures with Krysta

"No wonder you’ve been so distracted," Lisette said, studying Krysta curiously