Page 175 of Vampire so Virtuous

She shifted on her seat. It sounded so gallant when he put it that way, but she still hated that it had been necessary. “Minh used some ability to paralyze me,” she said bitterly. “I couldn’t even move.”

Gabe looked interested. “Did he bite you?”

“No. Just some mind thing… I assume.”

He frowned. “Did Antoine not give you a resistance?”

She waved a hand. “It was before he marked me.” Then she heard what he said. “Wait. There’s aresistanceto vampire mind abilities?”

“Er… I may have said too much.”

Cally leaned forward. “What sort of resistance? Does the mark grant it?”

“No, the mark is separate.” Gabe grimaced. “This is something you should really discuss with Antoine.”

“Belle said every vampire had different abilities. What if Antoine can’t do it?”

He pursed his lips thoughtfully. “That could be true, I suppose.”

“But you can do it?”

“I could,” he said carefully, “but you should ask Antoine to.”

She focused on Antoine, feeling through the mark—something she now consciously had to do, she realized with surprise.When had that changed?

“Which way is Fisher Hill?” she asked.

Gabe considered, then pointed.

“And Allston?”

His hand swung a bit to the right.

“He’s in Fisher Hill.”

Gabe blinked twice. “How could you possible know?”

“The mark, of course.”

He stared at her. “You can sense Antoine through your mark?” His astonishment was obvious.

Have I been too open?“Uh, yes?”

“Amazing,” he breathed. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

That’s what Antoine said.“I probably shouldn’t have mentioned it.”

“I won’t tell a soul,” he said, drawing his thumb over his chest. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”

“You know only eight-year-old girls on the playground say that anymore, right?”

“Is that so?” he asked, lips quirking.

Cally sobered, clenching her hands together. “What if I run into Minh again? He’s already come for me once—twice if those thralls were his.” She clenched her jaw. “He’s coming after me to spite Antoine, isn’t he?”Unless he knows about the fatum-thingy.God… what if he does?“Gabe,” she said urgently, “I really need you to tell me how to get this resistance. If he killed me, think what it would do to Antoine. You’re his ally, aren’t you?”

“It is the sort of thing Minh would do, but…” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Cally. It’s going too far.”

She could hear the reluctance in his tone, but fixed him with her best pleading gaze. “Please, Gabe. If you can give me this resistance, please will you?”