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controlled。 The trick was； was there anything behind that face that could help me？
〃Dominic； Sabin； and I are a triumvirate。 We are what you and Richard and Jean…Claude could have been。〃
I didn't like her using the past tense。 〃You're the woman he gave up fresh blood for？〃
〃I believe in the sanctity of life。 I thought I valued that above all。 Watching Sabin's golden beauty rot away has convinced me otherwise。 I will do anything； anything to help him recover。〃 Something like pain crossed her eyes and she looked away。 When she looked back； her face was forcibly blank； the effort trembling down her hands。 She noticed and hugged her hands to her arms。 She smiled； but it wasn't a happy smile。 〃I have to make it up to him； Anita。 I am sorry that you and yours have bee entangled in our problems。〃
〃How am I caught up in it？〃
Raina slid her arm over my stomach； putting her face very near mine。 〃Dominic has a spell to cure Sabin of the rotting disease。 A transfer of magical essence； you might say。 All he needed was exactly the right donor。〃 She leaned in so close that only my turning my head kept our lips from touching。 She whispered against my skin； breath warm； 〃A perfect donor。 A vampire who shares Sabin's powers exactly； a perfect match； and a servant； either alpha werewolf； or necromancer； bound to that same vampire。〃
I turned and looked at her。 I couldn't help it。 She kissed me； pressing her mouth against mine； trying to force her tongue inside。 I bit her lip hard enough that I tasted blood。
She jerked back with a startled scream。 She put her hand to her mouth and stared down at me。 〃That is going to cost you dearly。〃
I spit her blood at her。 It spattered along my chin。 It was a stupid thing to have done。 Making her angrier was not helpful； but watching the blood drip down her lovely face had almost been worth it。
〃Gabriel； entertain Ms。 Blake。〃
That got my attention。 Gabriel slid onto the bed； folding himself against me as Raina had done on the other side。 He was taller； six feet； so he didn't fit quite as well； but what he lacked in matching size he made up for in technique。 He straddled my body and leaned over me in a sort of push…up； bringing his mouth close and closer。 He licked my bloody chin； one quick flick of his tongue。 I jerked my head away。
He grabbed my chin with one hand； forcing me to look at him。 He held my chin like a vise； fingers digging in when I struggled。 The strength in his fingers was enough to crush my jaw if he squeezed。 He licked the blood off my chin and lips in slow； lingering licks。
I screamed； then mentally cursed myself。 This was what they wanted。 Panic would not help。 Panic would not help。 I kept repeating it over and over until I stopped pulling at the ropes。 I would not lose it； not yet； not yet。
Cassandra crawled up on the bed。 I could only see her white dress out of the corner of my eye。 Gabriel still held me immobile。
〃Let go of her face so she can look at me。〃
Gabriel glanced at her and hissed。
A low； rolling growl trickled out from behind her lips。 〃I'm in the mood for a fight tonight； kitty； don't make it easy for me。〃
〃Aren't you expected at the ceremony？〃 Raina said。 〃Doesn't Dominic need you there for it to work？〃
Cassandra reared back； and the voice that came was low and fell from her human lips with effort。 〃I will speak with Anita before I go； or I will not go。〃
Raina came to stand on the other side of the bed。 〃You'll never find another master vampire who matches your master as perfectly as Jean…Claude。 Never。 You'd jeopardize his one chance at a cure？〃
〃I will do as I wish on this one thing； Raina； for I am alpha。 When Richard is gone； I will lead the pack。 Do not forget that。〃
〃That wasn't our bargain。〃
〃Our bargain was that you would kill the Executioner before we arrived in town。 You failed。〃
〃Marcus hired the best。 Who knew she would be so hard to kill？〃
〃I did； the first time I met her。 You are always underestimating other women； Raina； it is one of your weaknesses。〃 Cassandra leaned towards Raina。 〃You tried to kill Richard before Dominic could use him in the spell。〃
〃He was going to kill Marcus。〃
Cassandra shook her head。 〃You panicked； Raina。 You and Marcus。 Now Marcus is dead； and you can't hold the pack。 Too many of them hate you。 And many of them love Richard； or at least admire him。〃
I wanted to ask where Jean…Claude and Richard were； but I was afraid I knew。 A ceremony； sacrifice； but they needed Cassandra to make it work。 I didn't want her to rush off。
〃You were Dominic's alibi；〃 I said。 〃Not that I'm plaining； but why am I still alive？〃
Cassandra looked down at me。 〃Gabriel and Raina want you on film。 If you would give me your word that you would seek no revenge against any of us for the deaths of your two men； then I would fight to see you go free。〃
I started to open my mouth and promise。
She waved a finger in front of my mouth。 〃No lies； Anita； not between us。〃
〃Too late for that；〃 I said。
Cassandra nodded。 〃True； and that grieves me。 Under other circumstances； we might have been friends。〃
〃Yeah。〃 Of course； that made it hurt all the more。 Nothing rubs salt in the wounds like betrayal。 Richard could probably pare notes with me right now。
〃Where are Richard and Jean…Claude？〃
She stared down at me。 〃Even now you think you can save them； don't you？〃
I would have shrugged； but I couldn't。 〃It was a thought。〃
〃You were a lure and a hostage for the two men；〃 Cassandra said。
Gabriel had settled on top of me； body pressing along the length of my body。 He was heavy。 You never noticed how heavy a man was when you were enjoying yourself。 He had sunk down； so that his feet trailed off the bed； and he could fold his arms across my chest。 His chin rested on his arms； and he stared at me like that； like he knew he had all day； all night； all the time in the world。
〃I am very surprised that you broke up with Richard today； Anita；〃 Raina said。 〃We sent him a lock of your hair with a note saying we'd send a hand next。 He came alone and told no one； as we had said to do。 He really is a fool。〃
It sounded like something Richard would do； but it surprised me； anyway。 〃You didn't get Jean…Claude to hand himself over for a lock of my hair。〃
Raina moved where I could see her better and smiled down。 Her lip was already beginning to heal。 〃Very true； we didn't even try。 Jean…Claude would have known we meant to kill you； regardless。 He'd have e with all his vampires； all the wolves that are loyal to him。 It would have been a bloodbath。〃
〃How did you get him then？〃
〃Cassandra betrayed him。 Didn't you； Cassandra？〃
Cassandra just looked at us。 〃If Richard hadn't broken with you； you might have been able to cure Sabin。 Seeking your aid was originally only an excuse to enter Jean…Claude's territory； but you were more powerful than Dominic first thought。 You surprised us by bearing none of the vampire's marks。 You were supposed to be part of the sacrifice； but without at least the first mark； it will not work。〃
Hurrah for me。 〃You saw me heal Damian's cut and the zombie。 I can heal Sabin。 You know I can； Cassandra。 You saw it。〃
She shook her head。 〃The sickness ha