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ARRA SAILS aiting for Mr Crepsley and me outside the Hall of Princes Arra was one of the rare fehter, the equal - or better - ofmy stay, and I’d won her hard-to-earn respect

"How are you?" she asked, shaking ood," I said

"Nervous?"

"Yes"

"I was too, when facing oes into the is not to panic"

"I’ll try not to"

Arra cleared her throat "I hope you don’t hold what I said in the Hall of Princes against ed the Princes toeasy on vampires, even if they’re children Ours is a hard life, not suited to the weak As I said in the Hall, I think you’ll pass the Trials, but if you don’t, I won’t step in to plead for your life"

"I understand," I said

"We’re still friends?"

"Yes"

"If you need help preparing, call on h the Trials three times, to prove to myself more than anyone else that I am a worthy vampire There is very little that I don’t know about the to her

"Courteous as ever, Larten," Arra noted "And as handsohed out loud Mr Crepsley - handsoes in zoos! But Mr Crepsley took the coh he were used to such flattery, and bowed again

"And you are as beautiful as ever," he said

"I know" She grinned and left Mr Crepsley watched her intently as she walked away, a faraway look on his nor, he scowled

"What are you grinning about?" he snapped

"Nothing," I said innocently, then added slyly, "an old girlfriend?"

"If you must know," he said stiffly, "Arra was once my mate"

I blinked "You "

I stared, slack-jawed, at the vampire "You never told me you were married!"

"I am not - anyet a divorce?"

He shook his head "Vampires neithercommitments instead"