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ss mouth fed。
The room was suddenly too warm； almost hot。 I turned away and found Micah watching me。 I couldn't read his expression； wasn't sure I wanted to。 I looked away from whatever was in his eyes。 I didn't want to meet anyone's eyes right now。 I'd fought so long and so hard not to be what I was。 Not to be Jean…Claude's human servant； not to be Richard's lupa； not to be anything to anyone。 Everyone seemed to be paying the price for that。 I hated having other people pay the price for my problems。 It was against the rules somehow。
Jean…Claude's voice drew me back to the coffin。 〃Drink； Gretchen； drink of my blood。 I gave you life once； let it be so again。〃 Jason was sitting slumped beside the coffin； cradling his bloody wrist with a beatific expression on his face。 The dried thing was sitting up with Jean…Claude's arm behind its shoulders。 It looked 。。。 better； but still not alive； not even quite real。 He offered the pale flesh of his wrist to that lipless mouth； still red with Jason's blood； and it bit down。 I heard Jean…Claude sigh； but that was the only sign that it might hurt。
〃Blood to blood； flesh to flesh。〃 Jean…Claude spoke the words； and with each word； with each suck of blood； I felt the power grow； felt it curl in my stomach； shorten my breath。 Gretchen's body began to stretch and fill。 The pieces of hair thickened and began to flow around her。 The dried things in her eye sockets filled and began to have a hint of blue to them。 When Jean…Claude moved his wrist from her mouth； they were full…pouting lips。 She had blue eyes and a wealth of yellow hair。 She was thin； her bones showing under the near translucent paleness of her skin。 Her eyes were filled with fire； nothing human。 Her hands were still painfully thin； her body fragile； but she looked almost like the vampire that had tried to kill me years ago。
He picked her up in his arms； her body didn't fill out the clothes that hung from her frame。 〃Breath to breath；〃 he said and leaned in towards her。 They kissed； and I felt the power pass between them。 I knew that that kiss could have drained her life away again； but it didn't。 When he raised back from her； her face was full and rounded； human looking。 It was like Prince Charming waking Sleeping Beauty； except that this beauty's eyes found me； and the hatred in them was a burning thing。
I sighed。 Some people never learn。 I met that hateful gaze and said； 〃Gretchen； I promise you two things； you'll never have to go back in that box； and if you try to hurt me or mine again； I'll kill you。 And that would be a damn shame since I'm the one who persuaded Jean…Claude to let you out in the first place。〃
She just looked at me the way that tigers behind bars watch the visitors； biding their time。 Jean…Claude hugged her to him。 〃If you try and harm my human servant again； I will see you destroyed； Gretal。〃 Gretal had been her original name； so I'd been told。
〃I hear you； Jean…Claude。〃 Her voice sounded rough； as if the time in the coffin had damaged it。
〃e； Jason； we need to warm this one。〃 Jason got to his feet like an obedient puppy； still bleeding； still happy。
Jean…Claude paused in the doorway looking； not at me； but at Asher。 〃I must take this one to the bath； or all the work will be undone。 But Damian is a revenant now。〃
Asher raised a hand； which had been hidden along his body。 He had a gun； a 10…millimeter Browning； the big brother of my own gun。 〃I will do what needs doing。〃
〃We are not going to kill Damian；〃 I said。
Jean…Claude looked at me； then at Micah； and Nathaniel； and Gil； and the other wereleopards； and even the bodyguards。 His gaze seemed to take everyone in； then he looked at me again。 〃I ask again； ma petite； who will you sacrifice for your high ideals？〃
〃You think he can't be saved； don't you？〃
〃I know that once the madness takes a vampire； even the master who bore him cannot always bring him back to his senses。〃
〃Is there anything I can do that might bring him back to himself？〃
〃Let him feed； try to see he does not kill that which he eats； and hope when he tastes your blood； he regains his senses。 If your blood does not sate him； then Asher will try to feed him。 If that fails 。。。 〃 He gave that shrug that meant everything and nothing； even holding Gretchen it looked graceful。
〃I don't want him to die because of me。〃
〃If he dies； ma petite； it will be because he tried to kill someone in this room。〃 With that he walked out； Jason trailing behind。
I think； perhaps； I'd used up Jean…Claude's patience with me； or maybe seeing what he'd done to Gretchen had bothered him that much。 Whatever the cause； he left me in the room with everyone looking to me as to how to proceed。 And I didn't have a clue。 Who was I willing to put next to the coffin？ Who was I willing to risk？
56
THE ANSWER； OF course； was no one； but we finally decided who got to be the first victim。 I was pretty useless for the discussion； because I would have put myself first in line。 Never ask of anyone what you're not willing to do yourself。 But Asher pointed out that I couldn't be the first feed if I had any chance of being Damian's master。 So they decided among themselves； and it was Zane left standing next to the coffin。
Everybody but me that had a gun had it out with a round chambered。 I needed my hands free to offer up a body part to get gnawed on。 e to think of it； I didn't much like that job description either。 But it wasn't watching Zane's pale back as he unfastened the chain that bothered me； it was watching Cherry's face as she watched him do it。 That much fear for someone's safety； that much importance attached to one other being meant that it was love for her； too。 They loved each other； and he was about to cry； cry for help； and loose the carrion birds to feed； and feed； and feed。
The lid of the coffin was only half raised when Zane jerked forward and pale hands showed around him； holding him。 Blood sprayed the white satin of the coffin； spattered over Zane's shoulders； and the only thing we could see of Damian was pale hands and arms latched around Zane's back。 There was no shot to take。
Someone was screaming。 I think it was Cherry。 I had my gun out； but there was no way to fire without killing Zane first。 Micah and Merle were at the coffin； trying to pry Zane free。 Zane fell back； his throat a gaping wound； and something that was all bloody fangs and wild red hair grabbed Merle and folded around him； tearing at the big man's throat。 The wererats and Asher were standing back； waiting for a clear shot； but there wasn't going to be one； not before someone else died。
I pushed forward； trying to shove Micah out of the way while I pressed the gun to Damian's face； but Micah was trying to pry the vampire off of Merle； and in the struggle I couldn't get my gun steady。 The barrel slipped in the blood against Damian's skin； and suddenly green eyes turned to me； and there was nothing in them but hunger。 Damian was already dead。 I just hadn't pulled the trigger yet。
Then he was on me； faster than anything I'd ever seen。 I was pressed back against the satin of the coffin； my hips and legs sticking out。 He didn't go for my neck； he buried his fangs in my upper che