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If I could have just a shred of that meat

Those deroup of five males--were so lucky They chose when to eat and where They read symbols on a menu, then picked whatever they were in the mood for They decided if they would like the table beside the hearth fire

Beggar wanted to choose Anything

He didn't pick which clothes he wanted to wear; he had only the rags on his back He didn't choose a which shoes he'd wear; he had none at all The snow and ice bit into his bare feet

Everyone called hiar, because that's how he'd survived But only in the past Now he'd learned how to scavenge too

Cheeks heating, he ad if the weather got any colder One day, when he never had to wear rags or beg anyive himself a new name, a proud name--

A custoed horns

Now I'm in trouble! Last week, the tavern owner had chased hiar darted toward the back-alley crate he considered home

"Hold there, pup," a h tone

Beggar slowed and turned warily

The de the icy street toward hih platter!

Sidling closer, Beggar stayed ready to bolt

"You surely are a filthy little thing Are you hungry?"

"Yes, sir" His storowled loudly, but he was too dazed to be embarrassed Just a shred of ar was so focused on the platter that he barely noticed Gouge's four friends e from the tavern as well

"Do you want this e asked "I'll let you have it"

"Y-you will???" This would be riches beyond his iratitude welled in his eyes

"In exchange for so"

Beggar drew back He'd learned to hate the wealthy They aames with the poor just because they could "For what?"

Gouge shared a sain "Follow us, and I'll tell you"

Chills raced over Beggar, but the scent of that foodtoward the necessary? Nothing good could come from this

So why a?

Inside the stinking latrine, Gouge said, "If you want this feast, Beggar, you have to eat it with a little spice" He held up the platter

Tears spilled down Beggar's face, because he kneould come next No, no, no--

Gouge turned the platter over, precious food dropping into the latrine

Stea with the steam from food

"I wouldn't tarry a hter "Each moment fouls your feast even more"

Sobbing, Beggar went to his hands and knees Vowing that he would never know this huainhe ate

Mirceo shot upright, fangs and claws as sharp as razors He darted his eyes, surprised not to be in that reeking latrine

He would find those fucks, and he would godsdahter them!

Where was Caspion now? He surveyed the room, then scented the air for him Not here

But he'd return soon Surely

Grappling to rein in his e every detail of what he'd just experienced

Caspion had been such a tiny pup, his es no match for the cold Mirceo nohat it felt like to be chilled to the bone and wracked with ceaseless hunger He now understood torment

And then those de more Those dead de heads

Was it any wonder that Caspion longed for the respect of the Abaddonae? Or that the de that he now needed to wield it over a partner

With that dream, Mirceo had taken his mate's past inside hi could ever break that bond Yet for now, he would keep his neledge to himself If Caspion learned Mirceo had seen his row furious

Mirceo would add this secret to his others: You were once the subject of a wager, Caspion And to get you in bed, I resorted to underhanded means

Where in the hells was the demon?