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Beyond those cracklingin a different hand Each one signed with a large, ornate R

Here Sebastian paused His hands hovered over the page, and he felt coaze on hi there "Rosas Of course Would you like a copy of your own?" she asked

Sebastian watched as Wayren reached into her ever-present rugged leather satchel and shuffled around inside At last, she withdrew a sheaf of papers Not nearly as aged as those he held on his lap, but crinkling and loosely bound with a leather thong stitched up one side

"Perhaps you will find what you are looking for in here," she said, offering them to him

Sebastian carefully closed the Bible and reached for the papers When he touched Wayren’s hand, a peaceful war his arm and settled inside hiht before they left for Prague, and, of necessity, the nights following

The journey left little time for sleep Once they crossed the Channel, she, Max, and Sebastian sat a-saddle from sunrise until past sunset Wayren did not ride, but she had her own methods of travel and would join Briue

In fact, Victoria was relieved that Wayren would not be traveling with theet of the deht it would be best if Wayren were safely in the Consiliuue for Max’s Trial," the blond woo to Rome as quickly as possible "I oes well, and to make certain that he is well prepared"

Victoria had no reason nor desire to argue She felt confident that Wayren would be safe now that she was on her guard against the deue She wanted Max to be ready for the life-or-death task ahead of hi hi why he must He felt it would help to protect her-as well as hiic or sentiment

In fact, after her conversation with Max in the carriage back in London, Victoria had little ti anger left her cold and uncertain… and frightened

It wasn’t aher

It was a , her too much So much that he could be tempted away from his duty if her life was at risk

At last she understood why he resisted being with her Making her a part of his life He was afraid she would affect his decisions, his honor, his duty

And perhaps… perhaps she should be as thoughtful and hesitant

But she could not She’d found what she wanted, and if she had to live the life of Illa Gardella-a life of sacrifice and danger, duty and necessity-she wanted Max to be part of it

The night before they left for Prague, after she left Sebastian in the s room with Wayren, she’d had one last private moment with Max in the kalari room

The broad, mat-carpeted chamber housed a variety of weaponry as well as piles of cushions and pillows Kritanu used the her in theability that Max had enerous cushions for a wholly different purpose only a feeeks ago

When she opened the door, Victoria found Max standing at the slender weapons cabinet that held Kritanu’s extensive collection of blades

Despite the fact that she moved silently, he turned when she ca sword that curved froh hilt, and with his bare feet, thick dark hair, and swarthy skin, he reminded her of a fearsome pirate His expression supported the co his habit of getting immediately to the point as she walked across the roo and prayer, while you and Vioget obtain the Ring of Jubai," he corrected her "I know time is of the essence, but the process is not unlike that of the knights of old when they were ready to take their vows Three days on my knees, and then locked in a roo"

Victoria felt the ground shift beneath her feet and the walls tip

She’d heard about the Trial before, but never having had occasion to witness it, she hadn’t known the details other than that it was a life-or-death proposition Max would never have spoken of it, and no one had attempted the Trial since she became a Venator It was an exercise that Wayren, not Illa Gardella, ed-and now that Victoria understood who Wayren really was, it ht a vampire after no food or sleep for three days? In a closed room?" Even she, with her two vis bullae , would be hard-pressed to succeed in that

And even though they were in a hurry to close the portal, a one– or two-day delay in Prague wouldn’t make much of a difference if they had Max back with the Lilith and finding her lair