He heard Vlad but didn't really hear him, because all he could hear was Claudia's racing heart, while cold horror was creeping up Ezio's spine, digging in with both sets of claws.

She said something that was very Claudia that cut through some of the noise -- anger and care and relief and comfort -- because even though she was in her late thirties she was still his baby sister. Her hands were on his shoulders; she was on the floor beside him while he stared open-mouthed at her, while her fingers crept along his brow.

"You're burning up. What did that thing do to you? Ezio, what happened?"

Her throat was in easy reach, the pulse of her lifeblood standing out so sharp in his new vision, and it called to him, sang to him as he shook beneath her touch.