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"Pretty e It doesn’t see in"

"Does it hurt hiainst the chair "The ’roots’ shift under pressure so any attempt to cut the necklace will likely cause it to contract I don’t want to fool with it"

"The woht out loud "She was unaffected by the glow, so either she’s immune or she knoorks"

"The boy didn’t cry when you took him froe glanced at the door again "The child is very passive and compliant He doesn’t speak unless spoken to He doesn’t take initiative This boy is doing his best to be invisible Son of elect" Doolitle crossed his arhtly This is just so with her If she is emotionally distant, she may not have any attachment to him Let me run some tests The sooner ill identify what the necklace is, the better"

We left the infir toward the stairway leading up to the top of the tower, to our rooht Forand probably bedtied air were expensive and people tended to ht For shapeshifters ten pm was closer to four in the afternoon The hallere busy Random shapeshifters ducked their heads as we passed the had occurred to me "When the journeyman handed Amanda the necklace, did it seeold"

"And now it’s ale"

"You think it feeds on the host?"

"It would irl died instantly, because the necklace was hungry Now it’s satiated, so it’s biding its time"

"We’ll need to talk to the journeyman," Curran said "And the woman"

"Yes, the wo hair Can’t forget her"

Curran turned his head to look at me

"What?"

"That’s what I would like to know"

I shrugged "I will speak to the journeyman tomorrow"

"I’ll come with you"

And ould he want to do that? I pictured trying to conduct an interview in the presence of the Beast Lord The journey

"No"

"You always say that word," he said "Is it supposed to ?"

"It means I don’t want you to come with me The moment you muscle your way into the room, he’ll clam up out of sheer self-preservation Let me handle this"

We started up the stairway Our quarters were at the very top and I really could’ve used an elevator right about now

Curran kept his voice even "Soed to deal with the People just fine for almost fifteen years without your help"

"As I recall, without my help you al with People I’ll be dealing with one specific journey sanctions and scared out of his mind"

"If you really think Ghastek will let you anywhere near him without me you’re crazy," Curran said

I stopped and looked at hiuard, dress them in black, put them on horses, and ride up to the Casino Then I will pick the scariest looking shapeshifter in the bunch and send him in to announce that the Consort seeks an audience Do you really think the People will keep ood that we didn’t have any kindling or paper around or the sparks flying fro heads would set the Keep on fire We were both tired and pissed off

Above us Ji and caet aith turning on his foot and going into a completely different direction Curran turned to face hihed and headed toward us at a brisk pace

Tall, with the skin the color of rich coffee, and dressed all in black, Jiic said that at some point heat hiround with its scepter and proclai into existence, fully formed, complete with clothes, and ready for action He was the alpha of Clan Cat, pack’s Chief of Security, and Curran’s best friend

He braked near us

"Have you vetted the Wolves of the Isle yet?" Curran asked

"No"

"Who are the Wolves of the Isle?" I asked

"It’s a sht people They’re petitioning to join us and for so his feet on the background checks"

Jim waved the stack of paper in his hand "The Security Chief has two thefts, four murders, and an abandonment of post to deal with"

"Murders?" I asked

Jiave my word to the wolves," Curran said

"I’ the is let me make sure people we have are safe before we add any more to them By the way, Kate, did you review the Guild docuave hih stare It bounced off Jim like hail from the pavement "Somewhat I was busy"