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No It's not him

Bones heard the denial in hed "I'm sorry, luv, I know you care for him-"

I slahts, not because of Bones, but for the reason that two other vampires in the room could hear the He ht taunt Bones and be a dick sometimes, but he wouldn't betray him to Patra I just couldn't believe that

Which left souilty party

"Tate's not going anywhere, right?"

My calaze at me oddly

"No"

"Then let's not deal with hi that, you won't have to worry about killing him I'll do it myself"

That much was true, except it didn't apply in this case If Tate ever did try to kill Bones, he'd challenge hi underhanded just wasn't his style

"Mencheres," I went on, "you said you'd heard of so to a va?"

Mencheres let his cool appraising eyes s He saw through my apparent lack of distress over Tate, and he also didn't believe it was him

Weep

The word flashed across aze didn't waver, and I jerked back in shock even as I complied It wasn't hard I still wasn't all the way back in control of my emotions

I let so fat drops of duplicity that rolled downweak Sometimes it was the best offense

"My sire Tenoch had a siift," Mencheres stated "He could manipulate his body to appear withered in order to convince whoever was around that he was dead You must have inherited more from me than I realized, Bones, when I shared my poith you Tenoch took days to recover froth back within a fortnight"

Mencheres rose, all grace and leashed authority "We will keep the traitor secure You will need blood and sleep We will keep the news that you're alive undisclosed until you are completely healed Please, take my chamber It is soundproofed, so you will be less disturbed by the noises of the house"

Bravo!I wanted to clap, but kept my compliment suppressed under a landslide of shieldsYou devious prick, I ht start to like you

To add to the cae, I sniffled "Take me to bed, Bones I'm very tired"

He lifted himself and me up in the same fluid motion "Mencheres, if you'll direct me?"

Bones carried me out of the study When we passed by ive her an impudent smile

"Thought you were finally rid of me, didn't you?"

She opened her mouth, paused, and then shut it Then she further surprisedto be shoved aside For her, that was the equivalent of a gushing welcome

"Filthy aniht

He snorted in aain, too, Justina"

Mencheres followed us into the large bedchas

"Just need to get these iteular voice before shutting the door behind him

"Bones, Cat is correct It isn't Tate"

I was surprised Mencheres felt that way, too, but I didn't question it "He wouldn't do this," I agreed

"Why not?" Bones snarled in low, heated disagree you I know if I were Tate, I'd see me buried if I had to betray everyone around me to do it!"

"And you would regret it," Mencheres said

For a second, I saw pain flash on his face, and wondered if he was thinking of the o

"Killing your rival doesn't guarantee happiness Sometimes it ruins any chance you have of it instead Memories of deadones"

I stared at Mencheres His face was blank again, giving nothing away, but we all knehat he meant

"If I had not shared poith you," Mencheres went on, "you would have been killed on that train Youon your jealousy to blind you"

Bones paced in short strides "That would ainst ical that it's Tate"

"Maybe you're right"

Bones was so surprised by that, he quit pacing

I caers across his cheekbones "If you're right," I continued, "then the traitor is locked up and can do no rieved that , and I'll kill hithen you have a person here who's desperate not to get caught Reeling that you're alive Frantic over what you'll do if you find out who they are If you're wrong, we're all in a heap of shit So what are you willing to bet that you're right?"

Bones stared at aze

"You knoon't take the risk Fine, then Whoever it is ant to report to Patra posthaste that I'm still alive, and they'll also likely try to silence Tate before he convinces me of his innocence We'll need more than the three of us to stop this"

Mencheres nodded "In the meantime, let that person feel secure that the blame falls on Tate We will keep him as he is Who do you want to include on this?"

In other words, who do you trust with everyone's lives?

"Charles, of course If he's the rat, I'll stake myself Rodney also"

"Annette, too," I said "When she thought you were dead, she said she couldn't live without you"

Mencheres backed toward the door "I can't stay any longer, it would appear suspicious About your recoveryI was exaggerating Tenoch could regenerate within an hour and be back to full poithin two You will be right in a day at most, but let them think you're weakened"

"Grandsire" Bones halted hiain, thank you"

Mencheres ser than Bones, in ter aura of power, I never noticed that before

"You're welcome"