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Back The Dying of the Light Save as PDF
Chapters (115)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright
  3. Dedication
  4. Epigraph
  5. Table of Contents
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. 50
  56. 51
  57. 52
  58. 53
  59. 54
  60. 55
  61. 56
  62. 57
  63. 58
  64. 59
  65. 60
  66. 61
  67. 62
  68. 63
  69. 64
  70. 65
  71. 66
  72. 67
  73. 68
  74. 69
  75. 70
  76. 71
  77. 72
  78. 73
  79. 74
  80. 75
  81. 76
  82. 77
  83. 78
  84. 79
  85. 80
  86. 81
  87. 82
  88. 83
  89. 84
  90. 85
  91. 86
  92. 87
  93. 88
  94. 89
  95. 90
  96. 91
  97. 92
  98. 93
  99. 94
  100. 95
  101. 96
  102. 97
  103. 98
  104. 99
  105. 100
  106. 101
  107. 102
  108. 103
  109. 104
  110. 105
  111. 106
  112. 107
  113. 108
  114. Also by Derek Landy
  115. About the Publisher

Despite herself, China smiled again. “Indeed. But the answer remains no.”

“But you still haven’t heard us out.”

She sighed. “Very well. Make your case. But be quick – my bath is calling for me.”

“We want housing,” said Dusk. “We want access to serum and we want the same rights as everyone else.”

This made China pause. “In exchange for …?”

“Us.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Vampires,” he said. “Not only would Roarhaven be the first sorcerer city in the world, but it would also be the first magical community to count vampires among its citizens. It would show every Sanctuary on every continent that there’s nothing Roarhaven is afraid of. There is no threat it cannot control. No beast it cannot tame.”

“You’re offering us your services? You’d be our tame vampires?”

He nodded. “We would be part of the city, and part of the Sanctuary. You would have your operatives, your sorcerers, your Cleavers … and your vampires.”

China hesitated. “This has never been tried before.”

“With good reason. But times are changing.”

“And why exactly have you chosen now to make this offer?”

“Darquesse. A pack of vampires might not last that long against her on its own, but as part of a strategic plan …”

“So you think you’re swooping in to aid us in our hour of need?”

“We need you. You may have a need for us. This is an opportune time for a deal to be made, I think. Would you agree?”

China had to admit, she liked the idea. The first magical community to have its own vampires. What a signal that would be. What a message that would send. Dusk was right – Roarhaven would instantly develop the kind of reputation she needed it to have. And as for what it would do for China’s own reputation …

“Come in,” she said. “Talk to me while I bathe.”

56

TOE TO TOE

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The midday sun distant and indifferent over her head, Valkyrie walked the wide street, forcing herself to stroll with confidence towards the Palace, watching the people scatter and the street empty. Even the Redhoods stayed back. The white-robed Sense-Wardens watched her, but didn’t try to peek into her mind. They had learned their lesson when they’d tried that against Darquesse.

She felt vulnerable. The only disguise she needed was a change of clothes, which meant she’d had to leave her black ones behind. The outfit she’d been given – red, like Darquesse’s – wasn’t even armoured. She didn’t like this. Not one bit. She had to resist the urge to reach behind her to check if Peregrine was still there. She couldn’t even hear his footsteps.

Her mouth was dry. She really wanted to lick her lips, but was afraid that would make her look nervous. She couldn’t afford to drop the act, not even for a moment.

Valkyrie stopped walking, put her hands on her hips, and smiled.