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Ever stood, held his hand out to help Aleron to his feet, a completely unnecessary gesture. A show of
the standing of their friendship.
Aleron, Ever said quietly. You love her.
He began to shake his head, but Ever cut him off.
Do not try to deny it to me. The Bloodsong means something, Aleron, when a human is involved.
Even if I hadn t witnessed it myself, I was with you. I saw your love for her in the Seeking Kiss. I saw it
when you would not let me drink from her.
Ever& I cannot love another woman. I cannot do it. You know why.
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Eden Bradley
Yet you do. Are you going to argue the inevitability of the world with me, old friend? You know it
as well as I do. You love this woman. This woman this human who makes your blood sing.
Aleron looked to Meeraj s sleeping form, his heart surging, and knew what Ever said was true.
He loved her.
Damn this world. And damn his heart.
But he could not run from the truth any longer.
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Chapter Six
Meeraj woke to the rhythmic sound of footsteps on a hard floor. It was dark, and she wasn t sure
where she was at first. At the Midnight Playground, still? But the sound was more of shoes on wood than
marble, and she didn t feel the hard and ancient chill of Ever s presence.
Ever.
She remembered now what had happened to her, what she had done with the two vampires. Her body
shivered. But her heart yearned only for Aleron.
Aleron.
She felt him watching her in the dark. She knew it was him.
Aleron?
I m here.
I can t see you.
She heard a small click and the light fixture in the ceiling of Aleron s bedroom came on. She blinked
against the light, finally focusing on his tall figure, leaning against the wall by the light switch.
She smiled at him. You were watching me sleep again.
Yes.
How long was I out?
Perhaps eighteen hours.
Eighteen?
You played hard last night. I drank deeply from you. I knew you would sleep a long time.
And you ve been watching me all this time?
Since I brought you home, yes.
He remained on the other side of the room, and she could see the tension in the set of his shoulders,
his mouth.
Tears pooled in her eyes. She didn t know why. She knew only that she needed him.
Aleron, won t you come to me?
He was at her side in a moment, kissing her hands, her wrists. Of course. I m sorry, Meeraj. How do
you feel?
It seemed a loaded question. She was feeling so much.
I feel fine. Used. She smiled at him. But in a lovely way.
Eden Bradley
He turned her palm over, laid a gentle kiss in the center of it.
Aleron? I need to ask you something.
Anything, my beauty.
Last night& It was last night? Something happened to me when Ever was whipping me. That
singing in my veins or yours. I couldn t tell which it was. It was the Bloodsong, you told me. I ve heard
of it.
His features shifted, a dozen different emotions seeming to cross his face. His eyes were brilliant,
shining with emotion. He said quietly, Yes.
It s happened before when you ve played me.
Yes.
And it s not supposed to, other than between vampires. Is that right?
Yes, he answered again.
What does this mean? Other than that I am meant to be with you now, as you said?
He held onto her wrists in both his hands, but loosely. His gaze was intent on hers. It means I love
you, Meeraj.
Aleron& The tears spilled onto her cheeks. She couldn t stop them. She didn t want to. Her chest
ached. Aleron, I love you. I do.
Ah, don t cry.
He pulled her into his arms, a little too roughly, but she didn t care. She could feel his warm, hard
cheek against hers. He smelled of pure, clean stone, and a little of her own perfume, her own blood. She
drew in the scent of him, held it in her lungs. She never wanted to let it go.
Aleron, what happens now?
His tone was fierce. I want you with me always.
Yes. I want that, too, to be with you.
You will take the Turning Kiss tonight. We will be together forever, my Meeraj. My love.
He held her tighter, kissed her cheek over and over. She was overcome with love for him. And fear.
To live forever&
He pulled back, holding her shoulders at arm s length.
Meeraj, what is it?
I& I m afraid. Aleron, I m afraid of what living forever means. I didn t expect this& I didn t ever
really care about it. Eternal life. I came to the Midnight Playground only wanting to be with the vampires.
The rest of it never mattered to me. I love you, Aleron, but I need to think about this.
She saw the shadow come over his face like a door closing.
You cannot mean this.
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