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When Mirceo rubbed his chest, co I can say to calht now, is there?"

The vampire remained silent His color was pasty, his face waxen

Cas felt like he could hold Mirceo here, guilting hi But if he doesn't want meif he needs to flee so badly he looks sick"So now you're done withline, one a all the ruined souls you left in your wake" Grief seeped into hiin to dreaan to dream of our future! "Just as I predicted, you've lost interest"

Mirceo paced, sweating even more "I-I haven't lost interest in you"

Ah, so the greedy prince wanted Caspion--and others Perhaps he'd always planned for that, carrying on the lifestyle they'd had before, but sharing a bed as well "You ht as well clear the air completely"

He shook his head hard "Don't think that's a good idea"

Now Cas definitely had to hear whatever Mirceo concealed He traced in front of hi the vampire's chest "Tell me"

Mirceo stuhts aren't right" Agitation and confusion warred in his expression He sed loudly "We should talk later--"

"NOW"

Gaze darting, Mirceo blurted, "I paid those three ny"

"What???" That night had rerouted the course of Cas's entire life!

Mirceo's eyes widened, as if he'd never intended to say those words He muttered a vile curse in Dacian

"You set ain by this devious va child You played with my life With my mind"

"I-I did I regret my actions, but I admit them"

"You're tellingof a coward to walk away! Guess what? It's working--"

"No!" Mirceo traced to the roo to his knees, he vomited blood

Cas's first impulse was to care for his mate--which infuriated him even more "Look at you! Your body's told us all we need to know"

Mirceo swiped his arm over his mouth, then rose unsteadily to his feet

Resentment seethed inside Cas He burned to share his new pain, to o, there's so you should know I lied too, leech You did have much to do with my stay on Poly I suspected we had some tie, but I didn't want it I didn't want you I preferred to reodsforsaken wasteland than be with you Makes sense--enerate princeling with no purpose, no resolve, and no fortitude"

Mirceo's expression grew stricken Pressing his ar away

Cas gazed around the roo he was alone Then he threw back his head and roared

THIRTY-ONE

As Mirceo paced the rooms in his clifftop villa, time seemed to move in fast-forward

The sun set Night fell Dawn appeared, only to intensify into noon Dusk tiptoed in with the nearly full moon

All the while he questioned his actions, his sanity The panic only grew, as did that sense that he was e detail that should be foreuish over the estrangement from his mate

He kept gazing around, as if Caspion would trace into this room, a hero to be worshipped, to save Mirceo from his oretchedness From his stupidity His weakness

Within ht, Mirceo had been tealow, but he'd feared he would just prove the demon's points You said I have no fortitude--behold! Resolve? Not here, lover

He scowled at his ar histo sip a concoction that was more mead than blood

Damn it, he didn't want others, didn't want to move on to the next conquest He wanted to tease and conquer Caspion every day and night for the rest of their lives

So why hadn't Mirceo told him that? Because I'm my oorst enemy Caspion had known that about Mirceo Why didn't I know it?

Hours had passed into days, but Mirceo had gotten no closer to deciphering his feelings He needed Caspion to help hiether, they could come up with a solution Mirceo believed in Caspion--even if the reverse wasn't true

Would the de?

Deciding to beseech Caspion's forgiveness and help, Mirceo traced to the bungalow Please I will try harder I will do better Don't give up on me

Caspion wasn't there So Mirceo waited

And waited In those host

Inhaling the demon's scent on a pillow

Staring at the blankets Caspion had strung up over the s

Gazing out at the shore where the deod