“Because of what he intended to do,” Spade replied. “No one deserves to live after that.”
She hadn’t understood. Spade did, though. All too well. Humans might be more forgiving with their punishments, but Spade knew better than to show a rapist, even a potential one, any naïve mercy.
He also remembered the last thing Denise said when he’d dropped her off at her house later that night. I’m so sick of the violence in your world. He’d seen that look on many humans’ faces, heard the same flat resonance in their voices, and it all ended the same. If Crispin weren’t so busy with everything that had happened lately, he’d explain to Cat how the kindest thing to do for her friend was to erase Denise’s memory of all things undead. Perhaps Spade would do that himself if Denise had become delusional. Kindness aside, if her grasp on reality had slipped, it would also eliminate a liability if everything Denise knew about them was erased from her recall.
Spade filled his satchel with enough clothes for a few days and went downstairs to the garage. Once settled behind the wheel of his Porsche, he put on dark shades and then clicked open the garage door. Bloody sun was already up. Spade gave it a baleful glare as he pulled out into the dawn.
Humans. Aside from tasting delicious, they were usually more trouble than they were worth.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Once again I have to thank God, for helping me achieve my old dreams while giving me strength to strive for new ones.
If I gave proper credit to everyone who’s helped me, encouraged me, or been instrumental in the success of my series this past year, I’d need a separate book. So to save space, I’ll mention a few people I couldn’t do this without: my editor, Erika Tsang, who continues to amaze me with support and insight that doesn’t just stop at making my books better. If I haven’t said it lately, I’m so grateful for all you do.
Thanks to Thomas Egner, whose beautiful covers are like reader magnets. Also thanks so much to Amanda Bergeron, Carrie Feron, Liate Stehlik, Karen Davy, Wendy Ho, and the rest of the fabulous team at Avon Books/HarperCollins.
Deepest gratitude to my agent, Nancy Yost, for your professional expertise, the outstanding attention you give your clients, and your invaluable assistance in guiding my career.
Thanks to the fans of the Night Huntress series, for continuing to allow me to share my world and characters with you. My books are only possible because of your enthusiasm and support. Simply put, you rule! Special thanks also go to Tage Shokker, Erin Horn, and Marcy Funderburk, for keeping my fan site such a fun place for readers—and me!—to hang out.
Melissa Marr and Ilona Andrews, I can’t thank you enough for your friendship, wisdom, critiques, and general awesomeness. The two of you have kept me steady through all the unexpected twists and turns this past year. “Sorority Sisters” for the win!
As always, to my husband and family…I’d be lost without you.
About the Author
JEANIENE FROST lives with her husband and their very spoiled dog in Florida. Although not a vampire herself, she confesses to having pale skin, wearing a lot of black, and sleeping in late whenever possible. And while she can’t see ghosts, she loves to walk through old cemeteries. Jeaniene also loves poetry and animals, but fears children and hates to cook. She is currently at work on the next novel in her bestselling Night Huntress series.
To know more about Jeaniene, please visit her website at www.jeanienefrost.com.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.
By Jeaniene Frost
DESTINED FOR AN EARLY GRAVE
AT GRAVE’S END
ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE
HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE
Coming Soon
FIRST DROP OF CRIMSON
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DESTINED FOR AN EARLY GRAVE. Copyright © 2009 by Jeaniene Frost. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
Excerpt from First Drop of Crimson copyright © 2010 by Jeaniene Frost.
Adobe Digital Edition June 2009 ISBN 978-0-06-189289-9
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
25 Ryde Road (PO Box 321)
Pymble, NSW 2073, Australia
http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
55 Avenue Road, Suite 2900
Toronto, ON, M5R, 3L2, Canada
http://www.harpercollinsebooks.ca
New Zealand
HarperCollinsPublishers (New Zealand) Limited
P.O. Box 1
Auckland, New Zealand
http://www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
77-85 Fulham Palace Road
London, W6 8JB, UK
http://www.harpercollinsebooks.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com
Destined for an Early Grave Page 30