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he didn t give the vampire an answer. After all, Up�r had come into Vlad s home and had the guy
hauled away. Vlad had gone through a lot of trouble to keep B�la.
The man deserved an answer.
B�la was just too frightened to give one.
 B�la. Vlad s voice was sterner this time, more dominant.  I want an answer.
 Up�r not want B�la. At least, B�la hoped that Up�r didn t want him.  Not like Vlad want B�la.
At least, B�la hoped Vlad still wanted him.
 Then why is he doing this? Vlad asked.  Up�r has to know that he could be sanctioned by the
Ministry of Paranormal Affairs for having an undocumented donor. There has to be something you re
not telling me.
B�la quaked as he glanced up, praying that he still had a home when he told Vlad what he had
done.  B�la bad, he whispered.  B�la steal from Up�r.
Vlad stared for a moment as if he couldn t quite believe what he was hearing, and then his eyes
slowly slid closed.  Bloody hell.
B�la s heart pounded painfully in his chest as he waited for his judgment. Either Vlad would let
him slide on being bad or the man would kick him to the curb. B�la was terrified that the haven he had
found with his vampire would disappear because he took something that didn t belong to him.
 B�la scared, he murmured.  Hungry. Took shiny stick to trade for food.
Vlad s eyes popped open.  Shiny stick?
B�la nodded slowly.  Was on Up�r s desk.
B�la reared back when Vlad suddenly squatted down in front of him, the man grabbing his face.
 Was it about this long? Vlad made a small space between his finger and thumb.  And this wide?
He made another small space. This was even tinier than the first one.
 Yes. B�la nodded again.  Small shiny stick.
Hadn t he just said that?
 Where, B�la? The tremor in Vlad s voice scared B�la more than anything else could. Count
Vladimir Dracul was a legend in the paranormal world. People didn t cross him and live. For Vlad to
suddenly be scared was more terrifying than facing off against Up�r.  Where is it, B�la? What did you
do with it?
 In barn, B�la replied.  Hear noise. Hide shiny stick.
 Show me. Vlad bounded to his feet and started out of the bathroom, dragging B�la behind him.
 Now? B�la cried out as stumbled after the swift vampire.
 I need to see that shiny stick, B�la, Vlad replied.  It s very important.
 Okay. If Vlad wanted the shiny stick, he could have it, but&  Clothes first? Vlad stopped and
turned so fast that B�la barreled right into his chest.  Ooph.
 Careful, B�la.
B�la frowned.  You stop first.
Vlad grinned.  So I did.
 Clothes?
 Yes, of course. Vlad hurried over to his dressing room. B�la peeked around the corner when he
heard drawers opening and closing. He had never ventured into Vlad s dressing room before. It had
always seemed too invasive.
B�la s eyes widened when he spotted something tucked into the far corner of the room.  You
keep coffin in closet?
 What? Vlad glanced up from where he was pulling his pants on. He turned and looked in the
direction B�la was looking. A soft chuckle came from the tall man when he glanced back.  Older
vampires, such as myself, no longer need to sleep in coffins. We are strong enough to sleep in a real
bed.
 Why keep? B�la asked as he ventured further into the room. It didn t seem to make a whole lot
of sense to keep something if he wasn t going to ever use it again. It just took up space.
 I still keep it around in case I m injured. I heal faster in my coffin. Vlad walked over and lifted
the lid on the ornate wooden coffin. He reached in with his hand, coming back with a handful of dark,
rich soil.  To truly get a healing rest, a vampire has to sleep with a bit of the soil from his birthplace
under his bed. I keep mine in a box under the bed.
B�la nodded, remembering the chest of dirt he had found under the bed.  Saw box.
 I have more layered under the foundation of the mansion just in case I need it.
 That good?
 That is very good. Vlad dropped the dirt back into the coffin and closed the lid before walking [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]