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Maya just hated that she’d have to bleed for Skye

The warlock always required blood as his payment for services rendered

While she waited for Skye’s arrival, Maya slipped back into the bathroo the cell phone with her She had another call to make, one that required a bit more privacy

She quickly dialed the number for Memorial Grove Hospital Pressed the extension for Sean’s room

He should be awake by now Maybe not coh to-

"Hello"

The sound of his voice, slightly slurred, but definitely aware, hit her like a punch in the stomach

"S-Sean?"

"Maya? I-is that you?"

Her knees were shaking Shit She was a ht, but he wouldn’t stay that way, not if he kept hanging around with her "Sean, I, ah, had to leave town and-"

"And you left me a panther shifter for a babysitter," he finished, his voice see to fade at the end

"Triond isn’t a babysitter," she"He’s just there to…keep you safe" While she was too far away to do the job herself

"Huh Right" A sigh "When are you co back? I really, really want to see you soon"

And she wanted to see hiuy was the best friend she’d ever had, the brother she’d never had "I-I don’t know yet" He was also the one person she wouldn’t lie to "I’ve got so home"

Home Funny She didn’t really have a real place to call home Never had Those foster houses she’d stayed in hadn’t been home The cheapthe first ten years of her life hadn’t been home

"Maya? You there?" Worry filled Sean’s voice

Guilt i, not worrying about her

"Sorry"

"For you to cut out of town like this, well, youto save a girl’s life Yeah, it was io racing off to?"

She hesitated aat the back of the bathroo "The city of Sin, Sean The city of Sin" She wanted to keep talking to him, but knew there just wasn’t time Skye would be there soon-he was always fast-and the o, Sean Take care of yourself, you hear hts with creatures that you know can kick your ass"

He laughed at that A strangled, rough gurgle "I don’t think it’s gonna be that easy"

"Sure it will Just do what Triond says, get better, and I’ll be back before you know it" She hoped

Triond was a good bodyguard One of the best in LA She’d barely had ti that the panther was there, watching Sean’s back, made her feel better

"Sean? I, uh, just wanted to-to thank you" When she’d seen him in the hospital, she’d realized-

too late –that she’d never told the guy how she felt

"You don’t need to thank ry

"Yeah, I do" She closed her eyes, shutting out the sight of the door and reht she’d first met hi beat of his heart, thu faster with fear as he’d realized the wo wasn’t dead

Not entirely

Shit When she’d woken, she’d been scared to death, hungry as hell, and so dae behind the lenses of his glasses

She’d expected him to run from her Or to faint, as Monica had done

Monica She and Sean had really surprised Maya After the initial shock, they’d helped her

Driven her away fro hunger, and then they’d stuck around

Become friends, of a sort

A call had been made to her Chief She’d said one word to him, whispered, "Vampire," and he’d understood Chief Bronson had been in LA all his life, patrolling the streets, day and night The guy knew the score Her "death" had been covered up and Maya Black had officially resigned froin a new life as a monster

Monica had finally broken last year The demons, the death-it had all just becoone back to Kansas, back to a place, she’d tearfully told Maya, "Where I don’t see devils every time I turn around"

But Sean had stayed by her side Until she’d found hi out on the street

"You were there forher eyes "I won’t forget that"

Silence "Well, don’t forget that you’ve saved my ass more times than I can count over the last five years"

Her lip curled "That’s ’cause you don’t kno to stay out of trouble" Da out of trouble, Maya?" A slight warning edge sharpened the words

Hell, she’d never been able to stay out of trouble "Nah You knowon" Her nails tapped against the wood "I’ve got to go"

" Maya… "

Tension Fear

"What is it, Sean?"

The hu far too fast

As if the phone had been lowered, placed over his throat Over his pulse

What the hell? Fear

Then the dru faded and Sean’s voice murmured, "Watch your back ’cause I won’t be able to do it this time"

The call ended with a click

But the sound of his racing heart echoed in her ears

Sean Donnelley slowly placed the phone on the nearby hospital tray His eyes olden stare, then dropped to the claws that circled the panther’s throat

The pack of wolves were nearly motionless in the room Three surrounded Triond One stood at the door, and the leader, the ugly bastard with the torn ear, waited near the side of his bed

"That wasn’t so hard, noas it?" Lucas Sili out his best friend Fuck, yeah, it had been hard

But he hadn’t been given any options

"You heard everything?"

Lucas nodded Daet the hell out of here" Daht Too weak to help Triond