Page 20 (1/2)

"It will take aback on her haunches, her tail wavering over her head "This is Mr Sweeting’s work but poorly done I know ze sht his poison too cheaply and applied it too hastily" She nudged the spilled cake with the spoon "Where did the cakes come from?"

Thoht them"

Her eyes went dark "When? Froh Street, at her request I stopped on the way here froraceful, fluid ers barely touched the plate as she leaned close to sniff the rear," she said "Who else has been in ze house?"

"Since I arrived, only me" He jerked his chin at Casper’s splayed form "And him"

Reve stalked across the room to where Casper lay in the shadows He barely twitched as she leaned in close enough to kiss him, one hand on his chest "Still bad news," sheworse But he is a different kind of poison" She glanced at Thoo"

The daimon’s skin shivered over with shadows until all Thoht on her eyes Moving like a stalking cat formed of smoke, she crept toward the door to the pet shop The creatures within were still calling, fluttering, barking, scratching, and fighting against their cages Reve disappeared through the door, dissolving into the darkness Tho beyond hope that she would ed Her eyes were going dry, and he reached out to close the her into his lap and stroking back her copper-colored hair

"I’m still here, lass I’m not leavin’ ye Just hold on"

In the pet shop, the birds took their chaos up a notch The cages banged against one another, heavy wings sla into the bars as the crows and parrots screai pups took up a mournful, otherworldly howl Thom wondered, for just ain his arms

From the darkness of the pet shop, barely audible over the cla with the sound of shattering glass, Thoe he didn’t know

"Was that a terrariuainst hi her head under his chin

Thoilda, to the gods he had once cursed, standing before his own charred doorstep with a necklace of gray pearls in his hand

"It doesna’ et ye a new one"

"What’s happened?" She tried to sit up, but her limbs were still weak

"Bide a moment, love Don’t try to stand yet"

"But the shop," she said, struggling harder Another glass crashed, and a parrotin there The bludkitten? I have to go cals flopped against hi her a squeeze "There’s s just now"

"Tho with me?"

"You were poisoned"

"By who his

Reve stepped into the doorway, clutching a dark cloak hiding a liure She tossed it onto the floor, and it rolled, unconscious, to face the fire

"By zis miserable excuse for a daimon"

18

It was a while before Frannie could stand on her own and even longer until the slight daiained consciousness By that ti was bound to a chair with ropes froht With her hood pulled back, she seehtly iridescent, like a fish’s belly

"Who is your master?" Reve said, and the s her wasted face away More softly, she added, "If you tell me, I may be able to free you"

"Master Kind" The dai with the song of his heart Told me he loved me Promised he’d set me free if I did as I was told"

"What were you told?"