Page 57 (1/2)

They used the carriage that had been left by the stables to transport the female back to her family&039;s home Tohrment took the reins up front and Darius stayed in the cabin with the fe there was little to offer The trip was long and the thundering hooves up in front and the creaking of the seat and the clanging of tack were very loud and precluded h Darius kneell that even if their mode of transport had been whisper quiet and still as water in a goblet, their precious cargo would have uttered nothing She had refused drink and sustenance, and did naught but focus on the landscape as they sped through fare and forest

As they proceeded in a southerly direction, it occurred to him that the sy her initial capture, assuone up to that stone manse--otherwise she would have been at risk for de confines

Tragically, such an egress was not a worry now because she was so weak--although he had to wonder Given her expression of painful forbearance, he had the distinct iained her freedom

The temptation had been to send Tohrood news that she&039;d been rescued, but Darius held back A lot could happen during the trip and he needed Tohrment to drive the horses whilst he minded the female Given the threats from humans and lessers and symphaths , both he and Tohr had their weapons out, and still, he wished he had et in touch with the other Brothers and call thee of dahen the exhausted horse pulled thee that canizing where they were, she lifted her head and her lipsforward and holding out his palms, Darius said, "Be of ease it shall be--"

As her eyes shifted to his, he saw the scream she held within her soul It shall not be , she ht out of the carriage

Darius cursed and pounded on the side panel with his fist As Tohr halt, Darius leaped out--

She didn&039;t own appeared in the field to the left and he followed her suit, flashing over to her as she started to run Lacking any true vigor, her weaving gait was that of the desperate but injured and he let her go for as long as she could

Later, he would reflect that it was then when he knew for sure, during that o hoh it hat she was carrying forth from her ordeal

When the fe to shield her belly

And verily, she clawed at the ground to keep going but he sile any her up froht hith of a fawn and then fell still in his arms In the frozen moment between them, her breath came out hard fro jugular in the ht, could feel the quiver in her veins

Her voice eak, but she meant truly what she uttered "Do not take me back there--not even to the start of the drive Do not render me returned"

"You cannot entle hands, he pulled her hair back fro the blond strands in the brush in her rooed since she&039;d last sat before her vanity ht with her blooded fah too much to think clearly You must needs rest and--"

"If you take ain Do not put it upon o home--"

"I have no home Anymore and evermore"

"No one needs to knohat has transpired That it wasn&039;t a vampire is of aid, as no one shall ever--"

"I arew cold and hard "My needing caht that he forced himself upon me and I have not bled as fe"

Darius&039;s exhale was loud in the silence, his war forth a cloud ofIf she held the young to terht it unto this world, there was a possibility it could pass for a vampire, but half-breeds of that sort were unpredictable You never could be sure of the balance of the genes, whether they would lean to one of their sides over the other

But perhaps there was a way to irabbed the lapels of his sturdy overcoat "Leave me for the sun Leave me to the death I wish for I would takeof arm and shoulder"

Darius looked back at Tohr the boy forith his hand, Darius said to the female, "Let me talk with your father Let ive me"

"It was not your fault"

"Fault is not the quandary, the outcome is," she said bleakly

As Tohrment dematerialized over and took form before thee and render you both into that stand of trees I shall go to her father now"

Tohred the feentle hold, Sahter reverted to the listless condition she had passed the trip ho to the side

"Take good care of her," Darius said, tucking the feown closer &039;round her "I shall return anon"

"Worry not," Tohrrass

Darius watched theo for aon the grounds of her family&039;s estate He went directly up to the front door and put the massive lion&039;s head knocker to use

As the butler opened the portal wide, it was obvious that so terrible was afoot within the

"Sire! Oh, blessed be, do coh the door "Whatever is--"

The master of the house caht behind hiered the series of tragedies

"Whatever are you doing here?" Darius demanded of the sin-eater

"Is my son dead Did you kill hiers that were strapped, handles down, to his chest "Yes"

The symphath nodded once and appeared not to care Da?

"And the girl," the sin-eater demanded "What of her?"