"I was a thief," the vampire said with a shrug. "The law dogs said I was wrong, clapped me in chains." The shackle was long gone, removed and cast aside, but he still had the scars around his ankle to remind him he'd once worn it. "But I never killed nobody or nothin'. Not until after."

He looked inward, as if at a memory, then shrugged again. His fingers closed around her wrist, not gently but not rough either, and he pressed them to the pulse that beat there. It was strong. Healthy.

"You might not be a angel, but you ain't no devil neither."