destroy? I mean, right now, you’re allowing an unholy beast to live just a few feet away from you! On
their orders!”
Unholy beast?
Frankie rolled his eyes.
Snod grimaced.
Unholy beast that I love and adore?
Hmmph...
“I do not question my orders,” Ephraim repeated, but this time he didn’t sound certain.
“Father Sanguis wants that name. I don’t know why, but I think they want to summon this ancient
vampire. But Frankie told me that the spell won’t work. They won’t be able to summon him or hold
him or whatever else it is that they have planned!”
“Frankie?” Ephraim questioned.
“The vampire,” Snod replied, sighing.
“That beast has warped your mind,” Ephraim said sadly. “He’s totally corrupted you. He’s forced you
to doubt the wisdom of the council and poisoned you.”
“No, Frankie loves me,” Snod defended, “and I love him. He’s shown me how people can truly live
happily and free outside of the Order, that the world is so full of beauty that—”
“Stop.”
“Not until you fucking listen to me!”
“I will pull this van over right now,” Ephraim said with a dangerously low snarl. “I will take my
knife, and I will cut into you until you pass out if you don’t fuckin’ shut up.”
Obe...
Frankie was gazing at him with pleading eyes, pain throbbing pitifully through their bond.
He’s too far gone... you tried...
Snod grinded his teeth in frustration, turning back toward Frankie. He leaned their foreheads together,
taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. He tried to be strong for them both, but he was so afraid.
Frankie was scared, too.
“I love you,” Snod murmured softly. “No matter what happens, whatever they do, they can’t take that
away from me.”
Frankie managed a weak smile, his eyes bright and lashes fluttering as he replied, “I love you, too.
