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"Glad we had a chance to talk," he called after her

She didn't reply

Ian clapped a hand across Bones's shoulders "Shall we return inside? It's chilly out, and your wife is clearly cold" His eyes roahed "Clearly"

"Sod off," Bones snapped

Ian walked ahistling I snorted "Told you I should have worn a bra" Then I changed the subject, not wanting anything else to da "If you ask nicely, I'll let you open one of your presents, even though it's early"

Bones's lips curled "What must I say? Please? Ah, Kitten, please, I implore you, beseech you-"

"Shut up" With a smirk, I pulled him into the library and retrieved a box fro, because I didn't want an audience for this I'd been kidding when I said it was one of his real presents It was so else "Here"

Bones unwrapped it, and his srew to a dirty leer "Aren't these lovely? Not my size, but if you'd like e"

"Aren't you funny? But you know you're supposed to pick which one you wantme to put on"

His choice was instant "The red"

"I thought you'd like that one" My voice ispy from the sudden flare of heat in his eyes

Bones leaned closer until his razed mine

"Right you are"

Chapter Fifteen

THE RED NIGHTGOWN FLOWED AROUND ME, as dark as blood on my skin Bones held me by the hps and arched underneathfrom his throat

"Yes, Kitten Moredon't stop"

I closed ers wound the sheet into handholds as I moved faster

"Yes"

The sensuality of the moment faded as a haze seean to develop a life of their own They coiled around my wrists and ankles, as if the cotton had become an evil serpent I tried to tell Bones to stop, but when I opened my mouth, blood poured out

"Still trying to be brave, little girl?" a voice witheringly asked

Horror crawled over me I knew that voice

The haze lifted, and I screa wail as Bones and the bed faded, and I was somehow on the floor in front of my father Those serpentine sheets beca, and arony

"Knohat I' to rip your throat out again"

He came toward me I tried to twist away, but those knives in s neared les as frantic as they were useless Then I screas slowly across my neck

"Stop stop stop stop-!"

Max pressed sohed, sputtered, and sed, but after a few moments, Max faded and I could see someone else

"Wake up, Kitten!"

Bones focused in front ofonly blood to shohere they'd been His wrist was pressed to my mouth, the sheets were shredded all around us, and eren't alone in the room

Spade was at the side of the bed grasping o and sat back with a noise of relief when I blinked at him Dave, Rodney, and Tate hovered by the door, Denise al to see over them Then all I saas Bones's chest as he clutched me to him

"Bloody hell, you're awake" He pushed me back and cupped my face "Do you knohere you are?"

In my bedroom Stark nad and so was Bones Spade rose to his feet and I looked away We weren't the only ones undressed

"Bones, what is everyone doing in here? Spade, cover up Frigging vaot"

Bones still hadin his ar on display

"Will you aniet out of my way!"

Good Lord, et in? She'd faint if she saw this

"Spade, towel, bathroom," I hissed "Save some of the mystery"

He laughed, but it sounded ht I'll takeme"

Spade had blood in drying lines on him as well What the hell? Tate stared at me, and his presence made me squirm He shouldn't see me like this

Ian pushed by the other people in his way, snapping a cell phone shut

"I told him it worked, Crispin He said to call him later-"

"Now this is too et Ian's businesslike manner, not even a wink or inappropriate leer "I had a bad dreao"

Ian looked at me with pity "More concerned with propriety than peril We'll talk soon, Crispin"

"Right, then"

Finally, the room eh to tremble

"God, that was the worst nightmare I've ever had If I didn't know better, I'd say my neck still hurt"

Which it did, actually Hoas that possible?

Bones aze "Kitten, that wasn't just a dreaht that day with Max, and if you hadn't have woken up, it would have finished the job and killed you"

I tensed everywhere, trying to get control "How do you knoas a spell?"

"You started screa in your sleep Charles dashed in the rooht from bed-and we tried to wake you Then you becahtmare, and when I concentrated, I could read in yourto you No one had a bloody idea what to do Ian rang Mencheres to tell hi He's the one who kne to stop it"

"How long did this go on? It only seemed like a few minutes"

"It lasted round half an hour, though to me, it felt like years"

Half an hour! "You said Mencheres kne to stop it How'd he know?"

"Because Patra did it," Bones replied with quiet fury "Practicing witchcraft is forbidden, but Patra studied it in secret The spell would have been sealed with her blood, so only her blood-or the blood of her sire-could break it Mencheres was too far away, so since he'd shared his blood and poith ht it was possible mine would suffice It did"

I shivered Maybe the next time I went to sleep, I wouldn't wake up Killed by o