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"Yes," Etienne announced

Lisette whooped and circled the table so fast she blurred, drawing Krysta into a hug, then squeezing the stuffing out of her brother "I’m so happy for the two of you"

Richart rose and approached ed the Krysta, Etienne shoved hiratulations and ishes abounded

Even the quiet giant, David, sitting at the head of the table on the other side of Sean, wished them happiness and expressed his pleasure over the union

All retook their seats

And still Roland stared

"Okay," Krysta said when she couldn’t take it any longer "Why do you keep staring at aze to Roland "He’s staring at you?"

"Yes, ever since we arrived"

Etienne frowned "If you’re still pissed because I asked you to transfor to recall where we had first met"

"You and me?" Krysta asked with a frown of her own "Here at David’s place the night the mercenaries tore up my house"

Roland shook his head "No We met before that I just couldn’t reo"

"I’m pretty sure I would remember it if I had met you before"

"Not if you had just been bitten by a vampire"

Her blood chilled She had only been bitten by a vaht she and Michael had been attacked "You were there?"

"Yes I’m the reason the vampires didn’t kill you I intervened when the scent of blood led ripped Etienne’s hand like a lifeline "No I remember the attack The chemical--whatever it is--that affects merabbed us, dragged us away from campus, tortured Michael, and fed on me Then I blacked out from blood loss"

Roland shook his head "Vampires don’t leave witnesses Particularly female witnesses Did you never wonder why they let you live?"

She had Every day

Why had they let her live and killed Michael?

That single question had spawned a nearly suffocating guilt that had never left her

"Yes," she said "But, I don’t reaze "Do you want to reht she had remembered it "Yes"

He reached past Sean and touched the tip of hishappened at first Then ies flooded her iven her in their initial attack or the drug the vaainst which she had believed she was i hand in hand with Michael The va the and torturing Michael while theyhis attention on her and thrusting his fangs into her throat Then

Roland arrived, striking with a ferocity that was as frightening as the vaht orange of theirs He tore the vampires apart, as vicious as an ani froaze stray to Michael, saw his chest rising and falling in pained pants

Roland took out his phone and called for a cleanup, then started after the va it with a hand that shook "P-Please"

He knelt beside her, brushed her hair back with gentle fingers

"H-help hi at Michael, too weak to point "S-save hi face full of compassion "I’m sorry," he said softly "One of them tried to turn hi is far more merciful"

Darkness threatened

David withdrew his touch

Krysta stared at Roland through eyes full of moisture "You were there"

He nodded "I arrived too late to save hie a scale and, as a human, would have turned va since lost his sanity by now"

She blinked, knowing he spoke the truth Tears trailed down her cheeks

Beside her, Etienne released her hand and wrapped a co lad now that I was able to do so"

The front door opened and Chris entered, the strap of a bulging soft leather briefcase looped over one shoulder Securing the door behind him, he headed for the table and took one of the two unclai the chair at the opposite end of the table fros flowed around the room as Darnell took out his phone and dialed, but the call went to Seth’s voice aze as he put away the phone

David turned his head to one side, as though listening, and closed his eyes "Seth"

Everyone exchanged glances

"Yes" David opened his eyes and faced them "He shall be here shortly"

Sheldon stared "Where is he?"

"Anchorage"

"Alaska?"