page78 (1/2)

“Yes, it will” Though he wanted to get right to giving her blood, she was staring up at hiested she wasn’t ready for that yet Her fingers touched his jaw as he settled to the cobblestones, stretching out one leg beneath both of hers, his other knee up to support her back along his arain,” she said “Why did youAh, God You figured it out, and you’re being bloody noble I’ation”

“That cold wind thing Lady Lyssa does would have been nice for us to have ere in the desert”

“It’s not a vae the bloody subject” Spearing his fingers through her hair, he cupped the back of her head, gave her a hard look “Can you drink before we argue? I’d like you to be around to finish our fight”

“I wouldn’tHe wouldn’t kill me I wouldn’t do that to you”

“Yeah, so I heard You think I’d be all right with that, knowing you’d beco?”

“You weren’t supposed to know, one way or another And I’m supposed to beat him, so it’s a moot point”

“You’ve got that one right Drink, daht be too weak at this point to cut a vein herself, he drew his knife

“Which cup you want it out of, love? Throat or wrist?”

She was studying him in that intent, mysterious way of hers, but before he could take the decision from her, make an incision and force it to her lips, she slid her hand to the side of his throat He took his cue, tightening his ar his chin and feeling a wave of inexplicable ean to drink, take what she needed fro the other arm around her, too, he held her closer

I have to drink a little more than usual, Dev I’m sorry

You take everything you need, love It’s all yours Unless you’re doing it to keepelse to you

You’d never get near hiht a vampire

It isn’t always about succeeding, love So And if you lose, but I’m dead, you can still take his final victory from him, can’t you?

She pulled away briefly, and he felt the seep of blood as she gave him a look that was far more like herself “I told you I won’t be your death wish, Dev Not now, not ever”

When she put her ave her the answer to that It’s not that, love I’m not sure I could stand to be around if you’re not I won’t bear anyone har you, you hear?

Her grip on his shoulder slid around so the fingers were at the base of his skull, caressing his hair For only a h her, but it was enough toforcefully into her mind

I’ anywhere Even if you lost, I’d stay I won’t let you be alone, no matter what they do to us both

You don’t have to stay You’re—

“I’ over her He was feeling a little light-headed Jesus, but the blood rushed out of the throat fast He could feel her closing it up, doing that provocative little teasing thing she did with her tongue to lad to see there was color seeping back into her face, though her body was still too heavy in his ar But her eyes were riveted on his face

“I’ to be for the next several hundred years or so At least that’s what the judge says this convict’s sentence is” He gave her a wry grin, but his heart tore with the effort of it “You did it, so you’re going to have to put up with e your lish butler type ill ‘yes,to have to put up with a rough stocke the hell out of your place”

He stopped abruptly, realizing he was talking nonsense She could, of course, do whatever the hell she pleased He wasn’t going to bloody beg her

“Dev?” The scattershot of his thoughts was dispelled by her soft voice, the way her blue eyes rested on his face “You don’t understand what you’re getting into” But her hands were curling into his aro

“No, I don’t No bloody bloke understands what he’s taking on when he tells a wo to stand by her no matter what

I can handle the sheep and the books, drought and dust storoing to take me some time”

Her lips curved “We’ll see if we can’t take those slow, then We have ethers I like the way you dance, bushman” But then the serious look cas I’ve seen, people are what they are You either accept them that way or move on You have to accept what you are yourself, as well

“So you decided not to move on”