Teeth gritted, he fought to maintain his hold as Henry’s voice caressed them both. It didn’t seem to matter that it wasn’t meant for him. Kate gasped as teeth met through the skin of her wrist. Tony gasped with her. She moved languidly on his lap. He closed his eyes and barely kept from . . .

. . . didn’t quite keep from . . .

Then she was a limp weight against him and cool fingers touched his cheek.

“Tony? Are you all right?”

“Fine. Just a little sticky.” He opened his eyes to see Henry, only Henry, staring into his face. The relief would have left him limp had that not already been taken care of. “You’re not all carried away?”

“I’ve fed twice tonight. The Hunger is replete.”

“I thought too much blood got it going.”

“I didn’t take too much. Hardly any from young Kate.”

“Is she?”

“She’s asleep.”

“Doesn’t like to cuddle, then.”

Henry paused, about to lift Kate into his arms. “What?”

“Never mind.” Tony adjusted his jeans as her weight went off him, saw Henry’s nostrils’ flare and silently dared him to comment. “I’ve got to put the lamp back. Why don’t you put her in the car and see if she’s got her address written in her raincoat or something.”

“Or something,” Henry agreed. He straightened, Kate’s head lolling against his shoulder. “You know, eventually we’re going to miss one. Or they’ll get smarter and all hit the gate at once.”

“Yeah, I thought of that,” Tony said as he got to his feet. Then he frowned. “They could get smarter?”

“The longer they ride their hosts, the more information they absorb.”

“Oh, that’s just fucking great.”

They walked together to the lamp.

“On the bright side,” Henry murmured as he turned toward the exit, “that’s three down and only four to go.”

Tony bent and began coiling cable. “Unless one’s in Arra, in which case we’re just generally screwed.”

“So much for the bright side.”

“Yeah.” He sighed as Henry began walking and said softly as he heard the door open, knowing Henry would hear him even at that distance. “I’m thinking there’s got to be a better way.”

Arra watched the Nightwalker leave with the girl, watched Tony clear away all signs that anyone had been in the soundstage after hours. Although the pull of the gate had been nearly overwhelming, she’d needed to be there as they dealt with the shadow, keeping just enough of her consciousness present to see and hear and not enough to alert the vampire.

It wasn’t enough to know what they did, she had to know how.

And, knowing, what should she do with that knowledge?

Twelve

Twelve