“It’s dead. You killed it.” She wraps her arms around my neck again. “You stupid, oafish, doltish, idiot!” “Charlie, now’s not the time for foreplay.” I kiss the top of her head. “Why would you do that? Why would you …” She pulls back, her eyes swimming with tears. “Why?” I press my forehead to hers. “You know why.” She sniffles. “Don’t ever do anything like that again. If I hadn’t had the vitae eluvia—” “Oh, that’s what that was.” I wipe my mouth again. “Tastes like ass.” She laughs and sits back. “It saved your life.” “You saved my life.” I grip the nape of her neck and pull her back to me.
  
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