Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Colletion_ Books 11-15 - Laurell K. Hamilton [633]
DANSE MACABRE
DANSE MACABRE
LAURELL K. HAMILTON
BERKLEY BOOKS, NEW YORK
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
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This book is an original publication of The Berkley Publishing Group.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
Copyright © 2006 by Laurell K. Hamilton.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hamilton, Laurell K.
Danse macabre / Laurell K. Hamilton.—1st ed.
dansemacabre.litdansemacabre.litp. cm.
ISBN 1-101-14682-6
1. Blake, Anita (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. Vampires—Fiction. 3. Werewolves—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3558.A443357D36 2006
813'.54—dc22 2006010793
http://us.penguingroup.com
To Jonathon, who comforts me while I weep; who holds me close while I scream; who understands why I rage. Because he knows how to weep, understands that pleasure can come in a scream, and has his own rage to battle. They say opposites attract, but not for me.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To Laura Gentry (1911–2005), my grandmother, who raised me.
To Darla Cook, who helped this book come to be. She makes so much go right. To Rett MacPherson, may this acknowledgment find your life peaceful and happy. Deborah Millitello, hope we see more of each other soon. Mark Sumner, stop being a tease and finish the book. Sharon Shinn, friend and wonderful writer. Tom Drennan, so many children, so little time. Marella Sands, sorry that your vision didn’t find its audience. I look forward to the next world you build.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
1
IT WAS THE middle of November. I was supposed to be out jogging,