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Richard didn’t feel like celebrating what he considered Alexandra’s victory, but accoardens, where their seneschals and entourages had been gathering each evening Word passed quickly through the asse the revelations and decisions made
Michael came to stand beside Richard "For centuries most of our men have had to settle for the comforts to be had of mortal females," he said as they watched the others "At least now there is a chance for more of them to find life companions"
"If your damned leech doesn’t take it upon herself to cure us first" Richard saw Alexandra working her way toward thes a liberal amount of salt to apply to our wounds"
Alexandra stumbled just before she reached them, and clutched the side of her head
Michael stiffened "She is using her talent" He went to her and helped her to a bench
Richard, aware that Alex could read the thoughts of human and Kyn killers, joined the his arm around her "Who is it?"
"Kyn" She blinked several ti to clear her eyes "Italian Really pissed off Somewhere close, maybe in the city I can’t tell if it’s a ave Richard an owlish look "Who is Beatrice, and what did you do to her?"
"Beatrice" Seven hundred years disappeared, and once more Richard looked into the fires of hell "Beatrice is dead"
"Soroaned and pressed her hands to her ears "I don’t knoho it is, but they brought friends And they’re co for all of us"
Salva sent her ate accompanied only by Caesar
"Youher "Do not let anyone take it from you, or cause it to be opened accidentally"
Her dear, sweet Caesar He still believed she intended to use her sister’s tears only as the h lord’s throne Of course, Salva had never persuaded hi different
The Darkyn believed themselves to be cursed by God, but Salva knew better Her innocent sister had been guilty only of loving a ht hohters and killed their brothers and ift a punishment, as she told Salva in the many letters she had written to her froel of death that would co Beatrice had been charged with a sacred duty, one she had never been permitted to carry out
Salva’s last promise to her sister had been to assure her that God’s purpose would be fulfilled, and the world wiped clean again After seven hundred years, at last she would
As Caesar neared the guardhouse at Geoffrey’s gate, Salva leaned against him "Stop for a moment, caro I wish to kiss you one last time"
Caesar smiled as he parked the car and took her into his arainst her lips "You and I shall rule--" He stopped short and looked down at the copper dagger she had thrust into his heart
"In heaven or hell, I shall find you" She watched the life fade fro it in his blood She smeared it on her face, throat, and the tops of her breasts before she left hier as she asped as she fell into the wide-eyed guard’s arms "They are just behind me, and they h lord at once"
Robin ordered the driver to stop as the cab’s headlights revealed the still body of the gatehouse guard on the ground "She is here Wehis head as he soon as he saw the gunshot wound to his chest "Dead"
Chris ca to check the car that had been abandoned on the drive "She killed her guard, too"
Robin breathed in "I have her scent Chris, go to the house and warn the Kyn Guy and I will track her" He caught her as she turned to run and kissed her hard "If you see the contessa, do not try to confront her or go near her She will kill you to silence you"
"Got it" Chris kissed hihts blazed from all of the mansion’s s, but as Chris reached the front entry she sao uards, and her heart skipped a beat What if she already opened the vial, and they’re all dead?
The house seehter, and followed it until she saw the open doors leading into the gardens She saw no sign of Salva, Robin, or Nottingham, and hurried out
"Please, can you helpthe ar with several of the h lord"
"You’re mortal" The woet into the house?"
"There’s no ti desperate as the ht now" She glanced at the Kyn reaching for her "I’m a friend of Robin’s Ihands take hold of her "Robin has a scar over his heart, like soed out a piece of his chest" What was the word he’d called her when he told her he loved her? "I’m his kyara"