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phone and Augustus looked at Nevaeh. "I am going to ask you to wake Layla, but I want to explain to you what is going to happen before and after."
    She nodded, feeling as afraid at his words as she'd been in the middle of the bloodbath. Memory, along with Colton and Eldric came to the table. Memory took Nevaeh's hand. "You can trust him. He loves her, Nev."
    "I know."
    Augustus looked at Gabriel and then at Eldric. "If I am to succeed I will need your help."
    "You have but to ask." Gabriel said.
    "I stand ready." Eldric added.
    Augustus nodded and looked at Nevaeh. "In order to save her, she must, to all appearances, die. I will take blood from Eldric and Gabriel. Their blood holds great power. Then you will wake Layla. Judging from her wound, she will bleed out in minutes. Just before that happens, she will take blood from me."
    "And that will heal her?"
    "It will change her."
    "Change her how?"
    "She'll be like him." Gabriel took her hand. "In time."
    "In time? She'll turn into a Vampire?"
    Gabriel nodded and Neveah looked at Augustus. "And what about Gabriel?"
    "He nor Eldric will be harmed by the taking of their blood. Moreover, Nevaeh, once Layla is safe, I am going to ask you trust Gabriel. He will … open your mind and take you back."
    "Back? Back to when?"
    "To the beginning of this evening. You and he will be able to observe what is taking place and with luck, find proof of who is behind this. And then you will tell me."
    "But … is that possible? And what if we don't find out?"
    "You will."
    "Okay, on the outside chance that's true, why would you believe me if I did? I mean, maybe you'd believe him, but why me?"
    "Because you will carry my blood."
    "What?"
    "I am going to bite you and then you will drink from me. We will be connected by blood and I will be able to touch your mind and know what you say is true."
    "You want to – to bite me?"
    "Yes."
    She looked up at Gabriel. "I'm way out of my element here and scared. What do I do?"
    "Do you trust me Heaven-spelled-backwards?"
    He could have spent an hour telling her myriad reasons why she should trust him or why she should do what Augustus asked, but that one question, the phrase he used for her carried enough endearment that it wiped away her hesitation.
    "Okay."
    Augustus walked over to her and lifted her right arm. She tensed as he lowered his mouth to her wrist and gasped as his teeth pierced her skin. Holy moly, this wasn't what she expected.
    She'd had things feel good in her life but this? This was … it was incredible. When he finished, he gave the two punctures in her wrist one swipe of his tongue and to her amazement the wounds started to close.
    Augustus bit his own wrist and held it out to her. "You have only to take a little."
    She looked at it and then at his face. "I don't know if I can."
    "You can." Gabriel took Augustus wrist and guided it to her lips. "Just close your eyes and part your lips."
    Nevaeh searched his eyes for a moment then did as he ordered. She felt the fluid warmth on her lips and hesitantly stuck her tongue out to lap. It wasn't horrible but it was odd. Twice more she licked and swallowed and then Augustus pulled his wrist away.
    Can you hear me, Nevaeh?
    Holy shit! Are you in my head?
    Yes.
    She turned her gaze to Gabriel. He gave her a smile then cut a look at Augustus. "My turn." He held out his wrist.
    Nevaeh watched with curiosity, trying to see if being bitten affected him the way it did her. Gabriel didn't even bat an eye. When Augustus finished, Gabriel didn't even give his wrist a glance. "You want us to wait until you have Layla taken care of?"
    "No. Just awaken everyone and then do what I ask."
    Gabriel looked at Nevaeh. "Go ahead."
    "And do what? Touch everyone?"
    He shook his head. "Just use your eyes and think about it. Think about running around the room as if you're playing a game of tag. Move from one person to the next until they're all awake."
    "Except Asha." Augustus added. "We'll have her moved to her