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"Uifts froht it ift froiven uns And I discounted all that because it was business But this wasn’t "Okay What is it and what does it mean?"

"I have been assured that it is an indication of his satisfaction with your expertise and service, and to replace so lost in his labor A boon, with, as you Aerly, as if it ht explode, and set it on the coffee table in front of the couch Grégoire sat in a wingback chair and waited, the twins at his back, eyes on the box I took that as ift I sat on the couch and raised the hinged lid The inside was black silk, and on the silk was a jewelry display shaped like the neck and shoulders of a woman No head The shoulders were covered with a black silk scarf, lightly draping and partially obscuring a piece of jewelry beneath I hoped the MOC wasn’t sending me jewelry Or a promise that he wanted to take my head There were all sorts of ways to interpret a headless e, Grégoire leaned forward and swept the scarf away Beneath it was a s Leo had replaced my broken va it with his massive jaws I breathed out slowly It was beautiful, ether in an intricate weave There were tiny, faceted stones attached, all in tawny gold colors, the shade my eyes flash when Beast is near the surface

"The collar is coether or separately The lower layer is th and protection than the collar you lost to his service The upper layer, which attaches so"--he indicated a delicate latching s with chocolate diamonds and citrines scattered across the surface My ht wear it even orking in a forown and yet be safe"

I blinked And ran his words throughmust have cost a fortune

"The silk scarf is my small contribution" He flicked it sht It secures over the collar to hide the gleanize a weapon around your neck prior to an attack"

I looked up at the twins and licked , can I accept it without prejudice or would acceptance be a promise to hop into Leo’s bed?

"When a master of a city offers a boon to a servant or employee," Brandon said, "it’s exactly as ift only, a reward for a job well done"

Suu-weet I reached to take the necklace but Grégoire’s hand was there first, vamp-fast I yanked backin front of me And I didn’t see hi for a weapon in his presence--being taught that he ay too fast forit shown to ht A cold sweat broke out onto oire lifted the necklace and re it aside He unclasped the silver fighting necklace and moved That air popped and I felt the wind of his movement on my face I tensed My jacket was pulled back, the jerk hard enough to asp The silver necklace settled around oire’s fingers were no war the silver Crap A vamp who can handle silver He had been silver poisoned recently Surviving that hts fast and desperate

I heard the faint snick when the latch caught And suddenly Grégoire was in front of ain I was inches taller than Grégoire, and pounds of muscle heavier, better trained, way better armed And yet, if he wanted ht off I had once fought Leo I kne hard masters were to beat Gently, he pulled my leather jacket in place Raised the zipper with a rave;re?"

"We do" I forced e, pupils wide, as if he were slipping into his vamped-out state, yet held hi I took a breath, slowly, carefully And drew on h "Please assure the Master of the City of New Orleans that his gift is received in allhuht"

"And?" Grégoire asked