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"None of them was my mate! And you're my best friend on top of that Why can't you believe in me?"
"Because you've taught me not to" Caspion released hi is at its nize potential when you come across it I see so much potential in you, vampire But you are not there yet For now, you are your oorst enemy"
"What will it take to change your mind?"
"Nothing Your next step is to leave A hundred years can pass quickly for an immortal who remains active"
Bullshit "I'et you off my back about it I will carefully consider every aspect of our future And then I will return in four days"
Caspion shook his head hard "One hundred years--"
"Four Days" Mirceo pinned his gaze "Face it, demon, neither of us will make it a week apart, much less a century"
TWENTY-FIVE
The first two days of their separation had been excruciating
A low roar constantly sounded in Cas's ears Part of hi, realize he couldn't yet commit, and stay away
But another hot, aching part of Cas prayed to every dark god that the vampire would return in another two days
Put me out of this misery Cas hadn't been able to eat or sleep He'd finally started bloodletting--slice eneration covered his forear As he'd stared at the criretted the waste, just as he would the waste of any nourishe, a demon who'd offered food, only to throw it away
Cas could concentrate on nothing, his instincts going haywire Need a distraction His gaze landed on the coin pouch Cas would go see Bettina, dropping off the dragon gold
Stuffing the pouch into his coat pocket, he traced into her light and airy workshop Her specialty was body jewelry with hidden weaponry Dress dummies had been arrayed with various pieces Workbenches with intricate tools lined the walls
Wearing protective goggles, Bettina sat hunched over one of her creations, engraving the piece Sensing his presence, she lifted her head "Caspion!" Her light-brown eyes shimmered behind her comical eyewear
He opened his arms, and she ran into theainst him
"How long were you gone?"
"Awhile," he said, finally releasing her
She reles "Let's have a drink out on the balcony" As they used to do "You can tell "
He followed her into the main area of her suite A new framed piece of art--a pencil sketch of Trehan Daciano rendered by her hand--hung in a prominent place on the wall
Sick of that va the pink in her cheeks and the light in her gaze
She washappy The Prince of Shadoas actuallyher happy
From a bar area, she poured demon brew for Cas and a sine for herself
Drinks in hand, they headed out to her balcony Thedown over the fog that wisped through the medieval town
That moonlit mist reminded him of the vampire What doesn't?
This sleepy hamlet seemed so much smaller than Cas remembered it Why did I care what these derand scheot more satisfaction from one of Mirceo's awed looks than he'd experienced when this entire fickle populace had cheered for him
Cas would tell theo to hell in order to have his mate beside him If my mate could be true
Bettina sipped her wine "I'lad you're back, Cas A lot has happened over these weeks"
"Catch me up"
"Well" She exhaled a breath "It turns out Trehan believed I was the one who poisoned hioblet of wine that night, and I had threatened to poison his "Not long after you left, he and I reconciled and married"
Still despise that prick "How do the Abaddonae feel about a va?"
She tucked her dark hair behind her ear "Well, you knowthey saw him at the death matches, and"
"They love hiht "Cas, I love hi smile "And he adores me"
"Why wouldn't he, Tina? Daciano doesn't deserve you"
Her brows drew together "Cas"
Changing the subject, he said, "Where's Saleuard
"He secretly tagged along with me into Dacia, then took off! Now he's loose sodom"
"Gods help the Dacians"