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"Sebastian," she said, struggling in his arth he possessed, anger and disgustwith desire and fear "Stop!"
"Victoria, I don’t understand Why? What are you…?" His voice trailed off, and he sed Then shoved her away so hard she lost her balance and fell onto the bed
He wanted to join her Sebastian turned away, the nausea churning deeper
She stood up, her beautiful face tight and perhaps a shade guilty "I’ him closely "I didn’t mean to"
"I didn’t know that you’d becoled with the taste of brandy, rose in the back of his throat… He kneell how it felt to have fangs slide in, the pleasure-pain of blood drawn long and slow froht-headed eroticislanced at Antonнn, then back at Sebastian "I thought," she said in a low voice "I thought if his blood had soht…" Her voice trailed off as understanding washed through him
Pesaro She’d done it for Pesaro, for his damned Trial
Sebastian felt his lips h I doubt Pesaro would thank you for your interference"
"You ly marks on her arered a little Howto ruh his satchel Salted holy water would help to heal the marks
But she eak He saw it in the depths of her eyes and the paleness of her face
Yet he couldn’t blame her For wasn’t he also a fool for love?
Later that evening, word caue, so Victoria and Sebastian went to e Bri her with his affection and strength Then the ht fros of Jubai," Victoria said "But the last till be the ive them up easily"
"It’s in her interest to stop the deainst the last shot of sunbea loeen the red roofs "Surely even she will understand that-especially if we are the ones taking the risk"
Victoria grimaced "I’et the rings And then Sebastian will lead us to the pool at the base of her mountain"
"And hope that they work to breach the enchantrandfather would have known I presu that was hidden beneath London, because he kne valuable it was"
Sebastian nodded "And the Midiverse Portal is less than two days’ ride froht be there in a week"
"Wayren stays safely at the Consilium until she is needed here" Bri in his eyes "And so we stay for another day?"
She nodded "Until after Max’s Trial Then we’ll be five strong and off to Muntii Fagaras" She couldn’t help but glance toward Tэn, up on the hill, and when she looked back, she caught the exchange of glances a the others Wayren would arrive on the day of the Trial by her own means in order to conduct the event, but until then, there was nothing to do but wait until to, and I can think of several ways to pass the tily
"I know of a place that has good brandy," offered Sebastian
"And what about food?"
"If it’s food you want, I can take you to a suitable tavern" He glanced quickly at Victoria "Not the Lone Horse"
"And after that… soht be in order," said Michalas "Victoria, you’ll join us, won’t you?"
She nodded, realizing that her other option was to go back to the cha Antonнn and stare out at Tэn, or to hunt on the streets alone Perhaps another night she ht her friends were offering companionship as well as a distraction
And she realized she wanted both
Hours later, Victoria sat in a large, loud, but dingy establishenerous quantity of brandy or ale or wine-depending on their preference She, too, had had enough wine to take the edge off her worry, and found herself relaxing and enjoying the coerous, duplicitous life she did
The tavern catered toabout, which was part of the attraction, according to Sebastian… and the reason he, Michalas, and Brim had slipped into their cups Every time a vampire walked into the place, all four of theo for the young man over yonder Easy, and near the door"
"I think not See how he’s watching the server girl? It’ll be her"
"No, no… see how he’s looking at the ones throwing dice? He’ll slip into the gas, too"