“And who is this?” he asked.
“He didn’t like being called a pet, so I’m not sure I get to name him.”
“He says you may choose a human name for him,” Neva said as she walked toward us, “and he will let you know if he likes it.”
“Fair enough,” I said.
“I had hoped to take you up on your offer with Pierette tonight, but though I am healing I will not be able to do anyone justice tonight, let alone you and another lovely woman.”
“That’s all right, I think I’m not in the mood after all this.”
“I am sorry that you found our world so harsh.”
I shook my head. “It is what it is, but if Padma hadn’t attacked us here, then we couldn’t have defeated him this easily. He underestimated the power of the rodere.”
“He underestimated more than that, Anita.” Rafael leaned toward me as far as his healing legs would allow, so I moved the rest of the way to him.
“I told you before, I’d come to you.”
“You did, but I know you like your men to meet you partway.”
I smiled and we kissed.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you to Matt Stumpf for helping reawaken the warrior inside me, and to Guro Dan Inosanto for sharing his knowledge and skill with all of us. It is an honor, sir.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laurell K. Hamilton is a full-time writer and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series and the Merry Gentry series. She lives in a suburb of St. Louis with her family.
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Rafael Page 24