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"Madaain" His accent was classically French, to ht over an impeccably cut suit But no tailor’s tricks could make this man handsome The scent that rose from his flesh when he looked at led not to shudder

"Monsieur Philippe, you are known for unparalleled taste and an eye for quality This young girl would like to join our coht be so kind as to share your opinion"

He quivered with pleasure, his eyes narrowing further to regard hter on his feet than I expected, he held out a bare hand Unsure what he wanted, I put out my own tentatively He didn’t take it

A snort and an eye roll "Gloves Must be Sanglish What’s your name, dear?"

The Demi who had died on the floor on Earth would have beenwith the man who now held my future and possibly Cherie’s life in his hands But the De was a Bludman, a predator, and a perforave Monsieur Philippe ers of ht intake of breath toldlove off round, I smirked at his still-outstretched hand and leaned close, up on tiptoes and hands light on his wide shoulders, to kiss him on both cheeks in the Franchian style

"Je m’appelle Demi Ward Monsieur"

I could se that sent hi by the look in his eyes, he hadn’t had as lish Pinkies From what Luc had told me, the racial breakdown of Paris was about fifty-fifty daimons and humans, with less than one percent of the population o to the trouble to give up their own blood when trading in e purposefully amused or pleasured? I had been just as exotic to Luc as he had been to me At first

"And what is it you do, Deland, they’d pronounced my name with an emphasis on Dem, but in Franchia, it took on an entirely new flavor that I wished to practice alone and taste on et used to that

I smiled at Monsieur Philippe and stepped as close as his stoh the way his nostrils flared like a frightened horse told h to al behind me until I could reach overhead and catch my own foot My skirt cascaded down around runt behind me; he now had a prime view But allforward and gently pressing htjust the tiniest sliver of skin between s and the top of my boot

"I’m a contortionist, monsieur The best Paris has ever seen"

I placed one splayed hand against his chest and let racefully and falling into a split on the ground Monsieur Philippe cleared his throat and fussed with his coat Froe point on the floor, I could see the effect I was having And I struggled not to get srave;re, a Bludman in a cabaret? It’s unheard of!"

"Then hear of it," I said

I stood with a twirl and took a deep breath I didn’t want to do what I was going to do, but I didn’t see that I had a choice With Mademoiselle Caprice’s lessons in my head and steel inthem in their proper places at my waist and in my other hand Palm to palm, he arm and clammy, with just the faintest treh in his cheeks, spicing the air with nervousness and desire The blood hunger tugged at me but wasn’t problematic I’d seen other Bludmen lose it--especially Catarrh and Quincy, the two-headed twins at the caravan, who’d run hotter than ot peckish if he went too long without feeding But for er you would get waiting for a lass display Sure, you wanted it But you weren’t about to break the glass and steal it

I began to hum a well-knoaltz, and after a beat, he ht on his feet Madae quaver in her voice, which freed me to talk

"You see, monsieur I a for huht I’ve never drunk from a live subject I don’t even kno to break the skin My hunger is as inconsequential ashis ear "I am as tame as tame can be"

He twirled me out and stared at ure out what sort of curiosity I lass case in his bedrooht fabric over e

"How much, madame?"

Madairl wishes to offer such services, monsieur"

All three of theo

"Is that true, Mademoiselle Ward?"