Amanda Malreaux walked the pre-dawn streets of San Francisco, dressed warmly so as not to catch another foolish cold. The vampires kept their distance but followed her as she knew they would.

The Sisters were all worried about her. She was still amazed at what she had done under the tree at Point Reyes a week and a half ago, the night she got sick. But she had explained her mission to the Minister Provincial, the Sister who governed the Community of Saint Francis’s San Francisco house. Sister Margaret had questioned her intently, but had finally said, “If this’s what you feel you’ve gotta do, Amanda, I won’t try to stop you. But you’re scared as a mouse at a cat wedding, m’dear. Are you sure? Really really sure?”

She had nodded. Sureness and fear can walk hand in hand. And there was no need to drive anywhere special like Point Reyes anymore. Her work could be done right here.

Very near the San Francisco house was a tiny park called Juri Commons. It was set in an old railroad cut that stretched at a 30-degree angle between Guerero and Valencia Streets. It would do perfectly.

♦

Hunger gnawed at every empty artery and vein in KerriAnne’s body. It was worse than any food hunger. How could she keep her promise any longer? And now Jeremy had presented a dazzling possibility.

He sat in the bed still naked and held her hands. She was dressed to leave for the day. The light was dim but getting brighter. But what if she didn’t have to hide from the sun? What if she didn’t have to spend the day paralyzed, with nowhere to hide from her thoughts? What if she could be fed and keep her promise too?

She whispered, needing just a little more persuading, “You saw it? You’re sure you saw a vampire in the sun?”

She faced her sweet man who would never ever forgive her if she drank blood again, felt his hands on hers and breathed in tiny gasps, getting up her courage to say yes.