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Dan stared up at her, panting as she gently brushed the hair on his forehead, and I shuddered as he fell unconscious

Ivy’s expression was tight with a hard anger when she rose, her grip white knuckled on her katana "It’s not supposed to be like this," she whispered, eyes black

But it often was

I followed her into the kitchen and the small elevator just off it that led to the lower rooms Half the industrial ovens had been re, comfortable table that could seat twenty people Va their "children" close and fostering a dependence that was attractive and felt safe But it was a lie, and the danger usually ca the elevator?" I asked, though it was obvious

Ivy hit the down button and the doors slid apart, the car having returned to the surface to rest She strode inside, her katana in hand and her hair pulled into a ponytail as she put herself at the back of the lift Arms crossed, she waited forthe dumbwaiter," Jenks said as he saw her black-eyed, tense state

Seeing ressive pose, and with ot in Jenks hovered at the closing doors, darting away as they slid shut "What’s your plan?" I said as the lift descended

Ivy’s posture tightened "Felix dies, Nina lives That’s my plan"

Yeah, I had a si she wouldn’t like that

"You don’t understand," she alry, I made a fist and hit the stop button "Don’t you dare tellin her face and backing her up a step "Not three years ago I cae after Piscary blood raped you I let him live, and you will not kill Felix!"

Even if they’ve killed David? a tiny voice whispered, and I couldn’t answer it

Her clenched jaw eased, and she dropped her eyes

"Felix is the only undead vaer again "We need to find out why and if that’s the only reason they’re interested in him"

Ivy’s chin rose "I’m here for Nina I don’t care about Felix or Free Vampires"

"If you kill him, Nina will spiral out of control"

Ivy lurched forward to hit the button to h clenched teeth

Heart pounding, I sain "She is not fine," I said, and then pity cooled er "I’m sorry," I said softly "The only way Felix could take control of her like that is if Nina let hi him access behind your back" Head down, Ivy pulled away fro better than you expected Well, it’s because she’s been sipping the blood of the dog that bit her She’s still tied to him"

"Nina doesn’t need him!" she shouted

My shoulders slumped Hope died hard, and the lie was easier to bear "Two steps forward," I said softly, and Ivy’s jaw tightened again One back, echoed init too She’d been where Nina was now, and she balanced on the edge every day

"If you kill hi her eyes blacker "Probably at the wrong end of a gun If we get her back, we can keep taking two steps forward until she can let go She’s strong She’llher tears as if surprised to see them "I won’t kill him"

I could alment I needed, and I pushed the button to continue Ivy exhaled, and then the elevator dinged My chest hurt What the undead demanded of their children was hell But at least she hadn’t been involved in the h ti out, her balance perfect and everyand then to the sides The large roo katana dipping in a show of nervous tension I edged to the door to look out and keep the elevator fro a chrome and white leather chair to e it between the doors The elevator protested and whined, then went silent Our access to the surface was open, but no one would be co, I slowly explored the spacious roo Corround aparts, fake ith long curtains, and one of those huge vid screens that let hi the day It was expansive, decorated sparsely but with taste, andnook placed before the vid screen where I’d beaten Piscary into unconsciousness Anger still lingered at what he’d done to Ivy, and the va dead, really dead Ivy’s former lover, Skimmer, had killed him I understood Ivy’s fear, her frustration I’d loved Ivy Still did Letting go had been the right thing to do

My hand went to the sun I reached out a sliver of awareness, touching a line We weren’t too far underground Piscary had liked his ic

Ivy turned from the last pair of tall oak doors "They’re not in this room," she said, but it was obvious My brow furrowed Dan had said Felix had refused to leave They were down here sohts had drawn hi the carpet and drapes "Are you sure Piscary didn’t have a second way out of here?"

"They aren’t gone," Ivy said Vampire fast, she strode into a corridor My heart pounded as I jogged after her, being careful to look for attack since she wasn’t "They’re in the safe room," Ivy said as she stopped before a formidable door It was old, made of wood, and had been hacked, burned, and dented in the distant past, the dae under at least two clear varnishes by all appearances No attees of honor, perhaps, or trophies?

"Piscary’s safe roouards hen Jenks dropped down and wedged his sword into the keyhole