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She wanted to go hunting? As agitated as Austin was, a little action sounded good And maybe they could capture a vampire who knew Shanna’s whereabouts "Yeah I’ll be there"

At ht, he met Eift shop The revolver in his shoulder holster was loaded with silver bullets They wouldn’t kill a vampire, but they would sure hurt and slow hih that Austin could ask him a few questions And just to be safe, Austin stuffed a feooden stakes in the inside pocket of his lightweight jacket E over her shoulder

They strolled north along the brick pathway

"Garrett turned in his contract to Ms Stein today," Erove of trees on the left "Ms Stein was concerned that you hadn’t turned yours in yet"

Austin walked on her right, surveying the area to the right "I turned it in last night at DVN"

"What?" Eht?"

"Yeah They hired o there And I’norant about vampires, so ould I avoid the place? It seemed like an excellent opportunity to check theood heavens, Austin, it could have been dangerous Did any of the vampires try to jump you?"

"No"

"Well, tell me more What did the place look like?"

"It looked sorta nored "I turned in my contract to the director of the reality show"

"What’s his naht?"

"No, she’s human And her name is Darcy Newhart" Austin hesitated, then decided to confess "She’s the asped "The one you took a hundred photos of?" She laughed "Oh, this is priceless She’s your director?"

"Yes"

"And you’re sure she’s human?"

"Yes Definitely"

"How can you be so sure?"

"She had a chocolate drink on her desk And she has a pulse"

"She let you feel her pulse?" Emma studied him closely "You’re still smitten with her, aren’t you?"

More than ever Austin kept walking The pathway forked, and he gestured toward the left path that headed uphill "Let’s go this way"

Emma walked beside hied He knew she felt desire for him, but she was reluctant to admit it Or to admit that she was trapped in the vaed her yet?"

He made a face "What’s that? It sounds kinda nasty"

Emma snickered "Oh, I’m sure it would be with you"

He shoved her on the shoulder

With a laugh, she stumbled to the side "I only asked if you’d kissed her"

"Ah" In that case, he had thoroughly snogged her And it hadn’t been at all nasty

"Well?" Emma quickened her steps to keep up with him "Did you kiss her?"

"I plead the Fifth"

"You did kiss her!"

"I didn’t say that"

She snorted "Pleading the Fifth is the sauilty here You Brits have it backwards"

She grinned "But I’

"You should be careful, Austin What do you really know about her other than the fact that she consorts with the ene some research on her And besides, we have a connection I can get into herevil there"

"I hate to rain on your parade, but if she knows you’re reading herwhat you see"

"She doesn’t know I’m there She’s a coht In the die rock "Speaking of innocents, did you hear so their surroundings

Austin listened carefully, but could only hear the leaves stirring in the wind and E He closed his eyes and concentrated An attacker could easily muffle the cries of his victi in his roup of wo in on their silent cries of uish

Oh God, helpof granite A wo attacked on the far side He reht She took off quietly, pulling a wooden stake froe boulder, then paused when he heard a feminine whimper Great It would be just his luck to pounce on a couple of lovers He leaped clear of the rock, pointing his gun at the Two ainst the rock One was biting her neck; the other was yanking her pants down her legs The bastards!

"Release her!" He approached slowly, his gun steady

The second valare at Austin Leave us, et what you have seen

Fortunately, the mental command of one vampire had little effect on Austin He heard it and swept it aside "I’ You are Permanently"