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I pushed Spade back and went to the edge of the stage "Your challenge is accepted If you want your freedom" I cracked et it"

Tho him onto the elevated platfor Spade's further protest short with a wave of his hands I al to therapy I could do

"How do you want to die?" I asked, boring aze into his "Because you will, you know So pick your poison Swords, knives, mallets, or skin on skin"

Tho, brownish-red hair All this I noticed whilevaer in undead years

"I will kill you swiftly out of respect for my sire," he answered with an Irish accent

I gave a sharp bark of aht and round cheeks, Thomas reminded me of the leprechaun from the cereal I ate as a kidThey're after me Lucky Charreen, that would have made it perfect

"If you had any respect for Bones, you wouldn't be challenging for your freedom in the middle of a war," I hissed instead "As he would say,Very bad form"

"It was his misfortune to be enthralled by a witch such as you," he said as he selected a knife froed weapons I didn't bother to pick-I earing several on my belt "You incited him to war based on an assault that never really happened!"

There was an eruption of curses froe Cold fury enveloped ht, then

I let out a cry and hunched as if struck Thomas sprinted forward in a flash of speed When he was onblow, I twisted to the side and jammed his own blade deep in his stoh his heart It all happened in less than a second

"You du attention when Bones told you not to fall for a bluff"

With my knife in his heart, Thomas froze like he'd been turned to ice I leaned closer to almost whisper in his ear

"Tell Bones hello for me," I said, then twisted the blade in his heart "And when he gets ahold of you, you'llreally be sorry"

I gave Tho body a kick that sent him down into the seat where the orchestra would normally sit Then I tuckedto wipe the blood off

There was colanced up just as Mencheres caripped my hand

"Cat, I arated "You cannot attack her at a forainst our laws To do so would condemn us all"

Those words chased away my momentary confusion over who the five vampires ho entered the theaterLate arrivals, had been h toldI knew that laugh It branded me

"Mencheres, reet me?"

My fingers whitened on his, squeezing so hard, Mencheres's bones fractured as fast as they could heal Patra had spoken to him, but her eyes were all for race

Patra didn't have the fayptian haircut so often shown in hts in her long black hair Her broeren't as thick as Hollywood suggested, either Actually, they were slender So was she In fact, she was more athletic than voluptuous Her skin was pale, but darker than er than fashion favored, but there was no question about it, Patra was beautiful

"Why?"

I spat the question to Mencheres while not takingpointKill, was all

"It's our laws As , but she cannot attack us Neither may we injure her, however She seeks to provoke you to violence, but don't give her such an easy victory"

Oh, she'd provoked ht I wanted to rip her apart and wear her blood for clothing My eyes flared, green rays of loathing shining on her

"Hello, bitch"

She laughed again in an insinuating, purring way "So you're the half-breed Tell leam appeared in her eyes "Have you slept well recently?"

Soe The other half heard ht, chipper tone that was so at odds with how I felt

"That's the best you can do? Oh, Patra How boring"

Whatever she'd been expecting, it wasn't that Hell, I was surprised at myself

Patra didn't like being laughed at Her incensed expression was evidence of that

"I'," I went on "Now, either shut up or leave, because you're interrupting things There's got to be a law about that as well"

"I'll go" Her smile was conte, and soon you'll be less than that But before I leave, I thought you should knohy you're in this war in the first place I' my husband hasn't told you, has he?"

"Told me what?"

She laughed again, and I found h more than any sound I'd heard before it

"Haven't you asked yourself why I turned against Mencheres in the first place? If I hadn't, then there would be no war, and no reason to kill you or Bones"

If she aiting for ot was silence Patra sighed

"Very well, I'll explain When Mencheres offered to make ed my lover Intef as well But after I woke up from my death, Mencheres told me Intef had been killed before his people could reach him"

She paused to give Mencheres a look filled with loathing

"Then one day Anubus, a former friend of Mencheres, broke his silence Intef wasn't killed by the Romans Mencheres did it You see, little half-breed, you're in this war because I'e on my lover's murderer, so who'sreally to blame for Bones's death?"

I glanced at Mencheres, who closed his eyes briefly beforemy stare I saw it then That what Patra had said was true, every word of it For a e to stab both of the what they wanted

Then I turned back to Patra "I get your one after Mencheres Instead, you chose to kidnap people's family members to force them to suicide booing to kill you You of all people should understand why"

Patra s to free you of it" She raised her voice "I offer amnesty to anyone who leaves her and joins me! Furthermore, to the man or woman who slays her, I offer a reward beyond your ability to fathood"

I gave her a stare that was harder than the diaant bitch, I'll see you dead, and that's the word of a half-breed"