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Was it the blood that’d attuned me like this? Or was it merely my own deprivation? Hadin this confined space, with Ronan, the guy who’d tricked all to turn around and care

Like the notes, I let these thoughts wash over h to truly face and conteeny Kissin" Ronan’s subdued voice broke into hts "That’s the na"

"Nuht Sonata" Some fundamental tension, a knot that’d been clenched deep inhed a blissful sigh I loved lots of bands and hters, Cat Power, Nick Cave--but before them all there’d been Beethoven, and I loved him maybe most of all "How’d you know?"

"How’d I knohat?" Ronan asked I openedfor irl who’d risked her life just so she could sht like to listen to a spot of htened the mood, yet soful

I didn’t take my eyes from him as I asked, "Does this ifts and abilities?" I quirked an affectionate s it in that newly unwound place in hed then, and the free sound of it was a warular superhero"

The tape quality was ain, letting the music wash over me "I love Beethoven" I’d shut ain "Wait Isn’t this illegal?"

His probing look added so to my question

I felt myself blush as I added, "The tape, Ito tell on ive uy was slaying me We’d never had this Never done this before What did it ?

"We’ll see," I replied, atteood, I won’t tell" I blushed furiously--that hadn’t coood with me in the water For our class," I quickly added "As a teacher" My cheeks were really fla the leather headrest cool my skin

Crap…I couldn’t flirt if I tried

But the little exchange had clearly ain, it was stilted "Recordings like this aren’t illegal," he infor my question with a formality that, at that moment, I appreciated "For instructors, at least We’re allowed to listen toas it’s classical"

"No Led Zeppelin?"

"I said classical, not classic" The look he shotto loosen up again "Definitely no Led Zeppelin I iauche for the undead"

It was h "Ronan," I exclai pleased with hiain, and like that, the tension was gone It was a place I never thought we’d go--one of easy coh to ask so me

"So…can I ask you a question?"

He smirked "I’d be shocked if you didn’t"

"The va the words in my mind, I realized how ridiculous it was

"The vampires?" he prompted

"They don’t, you know"--another breath, slower this tih the teeth--"they’re not the kind who turn into bats, are they?"

A raucous laugh exploded froh the car "Bats? Now you’re the one to joke"

I crossed h at me"

"Aye" He dabbed tears from his eyes "I really do" One last hee escaped hile?--and he asked, "What on earth made you ask that?"

"I saw a bat is all," I mumbled

"You what?"

"Bat," I snapped "I saw a bat"

"You keep company with ancient vaed rat?" He chuckled one last time

"I didn’t say I was afraid" I squirmed low in my seat, embarrassed

We were quiet after that, and I suspected it was the one brief ain

Was he thinking about Carden? And what did it otten about him?

The cove where he stored the boat ca the rocks and pulling the truck to a stop