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"Christian,’ corrected Lissa

"Right’ Blake pulled out a chair, still playing the over-the-top gentleman "Please Join us’ He made no such offer to Christian, ent out of his way to sit close to Lissa "What would you like to drink? It’s on ,’ said Lissa

The bartender appeared just then, bringing Adrian’s drink and another for Blake "Never too early Ask Ivashkov You drink as soon as you roll out of bed, right?’ "There’s a bottle of scotch right on ht Lissa opened her eyes to his aura It bore the bright gold all spirit users had, still e of red--not true anger, but definite annoyance Lissa recalled that neither Adrian nor Auy

"So what brings you and Christopher here?’ asked Blake He finished a glass of so amber colored and set it down beside the new drink

"Christian,’ said Christian

"We were talking about ed to sound very conversational, but nointo the details of Tatiana’s murder obviously bothered him

Blake’s s For both of you’ That was directed to Adrian and Lissa Christian ht as well have not existed "Sorry about Hathaway too,’ he added to Lissa alone "I’ve heard how upset you’ve been Who’d have seen that co to how she’d been pretending to be angry and hurt by uess you just don’t know people There were a million clues beforehand I just didn’t pay attention’

"You must be upset too,’ said Christian "We heard you and the queen were kind of close’

Blake’s grin returned "Yeahwe knew each other pretty well I’ht have seemed cold to soood tilanced at Adrian "You must have known that’

"Not in the way you did’ Adrian paused to take a sip of his own drink I think he needed it to restrain any snippy ree him it I actually admired his self-control If I’d been in his place, I would have long since punched Blake "Or Ambrose’

Blake’s pretty sed scowl "Him? That blood whore? He didn’t deserve to be in her presence I can’t even believe they let him stay at Court’

"He actually thinks you killed the queen’ Lissa then added hastily, "Which is ridiculous when all the evidence proves Rose did it’ Those hadn’t been Ambrose’s exact words, but she wanted to see if she could elicit a reaction She did

"He thinks what?’ Yes Definitely no sood-looking as earlier "That lying bastard! I have an alibi, and he knows it He’s just pissed off because she liked me better’

"Then why’d she keep hielic "Weren’t you enough?’

Blake fixed hiulp Alic, the bartender appeared with another Blake nodded his thanks before continuing "Oh, I was h for a dozen women, but I didn’t fool around on the side like he did’

Adrian’s expression was growing increasingly pained at each mention of Tatiana’s sex life Still, he played his role "I suppose you’re talking about Airl’ is kind of extreme They were all older, and honestly, I think they paid him Not that your mom needed to pay anyone,’ added Blake "I mean, she’s actually pretty hot But you know, she couldn’t really be with him in any real way’

It seemed to take all of theht on first "What did you just say?’

"Oh’ Blake looked legitimately surprised, but it was hard to say if it was an act "I thought you knew Your mom and Ah just between you and me, I think she could have done better’ Blake’s tone iht Daniella could have done better with

In Lissa’s vision, Adrian’s aura flared red "You son of a bitch!’ Adrian was not the fighting type, but there was a first ti--and Blake had just crossed a serious line "Myon my dad And even if she wasshe sure as hell wouldn’t have to pay for it’

Blake didn’t sees would have been different if Adrian actually had hit hiently "Easy,’ sheconized it i her a look that said he didn’t appreciate her "help’

"I thought you didn’t like your dad,’ said Blake, utterly clueless that his news et all pissy atyou what I heard Like I said, if you want to start accusing randoo after someone like Ambrose’

Lissa ju "How many women? Do you knoho else he was involved with?’

"Three others’ Blake ticked off names on his hand "Marta Drozdov and Mirabel Conta Wait That’s two I was thinking with Daniella; that’s three But then, that’s four with the queen Yeah, four’

Lissa didn’t concern herself with Blake’s faulty h it did support Adrian’s previous "idiot’ claims Marta Drozdov was a se the world in her old age By Lissa’s estimation, Marta was hardly in the US most of the year, let alone Court She didn’t seeh to murder Tatiana As for Mirabel Contashe was notorious in a different way She was known for sleeping with half the guys at Court, married or otherwise Lissa didn’t know her well, but Mirabel had never see with other wo the queen,’ pointed out Lissa

"No,’ agreed Blake "Like I said, it’s obvious that Hathaway girl did it’ He paused "Damned shame too She’s pretty hot God, that body Anyway, if Ambrose had killed her, he’d have done it because he was jealous of me, because Tatiana liked ’

"Why wouldn’t Ambrose just kill you?’ asked Christian "Makes more sense’

Blake didn’t have a chance to respond because Adrian was still back on the earlier topic, his eyes flashing with anger "Mywith anybody She doesn’t even sleep with my father’ Blake continued in his oblivious way "Hey, I saw them They were all over each other Did I mention how hot your--’

"Stop it,’ warned Lissa "It’s not helping’

Adrian clenched his glass "None of this is helping!’ Clearly, things weren’t going the way he’d hoped when he’d first suoing to sit and listen to this bullshit’ Adrian downed the drink and shot up fro abruptly for the exit He tossed so out the door

"Poor guy,’ said Blake He was back to his calh a lot between his aunt, irlfriend That’s why really, at the end of the day, you just can’t trust women’ He winked at Lissa "Present company excluded, of course’

Lissa felt as disgusted as Adrian, and a quick glance at Christian’s storo before soreat talking to you, but we need to go’

Blake gave her puppy-dog eyes "But you just got here! I was hoping we could get to know each other’ It ithout saying what he meant by that "Oh And Kreskin too’

Christian didn’t even bother with a correction this tio’

"Yeah,’ agreed Lissa

Blake shrugged and waved for another drink "Well, any time you want to really experience the world, come find me’

Christian and Lissa headed for the door, with Christian , "I really hope that last part was meant for you, not me’

"That’s no world I want to experience,’ said Lissa with a grilanced around, in case Adrian had lingered Nope He was gone, and she didn’t blame him "I can see nohy Ambrose and Adrian don’t like him He’s such a ’

"Asshole?’ supplied Christian They turned toward her building

"I suppose so’

"Enough to cohed "I kind of agree with Ah for murder Or that the motive’s really there I can’t tell if people are lying or not fro overly dishonest You joked, but if anyone was going to couys want to kill each other? A lot easier’

"They did both have easy access to Tatiana,’ Christian reminded her

"I know But if there is love and sex involved hereit seems like it’d be so,to say what they were both likely thinking Finally, Christian broke the silence

"Say, like, Daniella Ivashkov?’

Lissa shook her head "I can’t believe that She doesn’t seem like the type’

"Murderers never seeet aith it’

"Have you been studying up on your cri’s front door, and he opened it for Lissa "Just laying out some facts We know Adrian’s mom never liked Tatiana for personality reasons Noe find out that they were sharing the sauy’

"She has an alibi,’ said Lissa stonily

"Everyone has an alibi,’ he reminded her "And as we’ve learned, those can be paid for In fact, Daniella’s already paid for one’

"I still can’t believe it Not without more proof Ambrose swore this was more political than personal’

"Ambrose isn’t off the list either’

They caht it would be’ They went inside, and Christian wrapped his arether We’ll figure it out Butwe ht want to keep so here, but I think it’d be best if we don’t ever, ever tell Adrian hiskilled his aunt’

"Oh, you think?’ She rested her head against his chest and yawned

"Napti her toward the bed

"I still need a shower’

"Sleep first Shower later’ He pulled back the covers "I’ll sleep with you’

"Sleep or sleep?’ she asked dryly, sliding gratefully into bed

"Real sleep You need it’ He crawled in beside her, spooning against her and resting his face on her shoulder "Of course, afterward, if you want to conduct any official Council business ’

"I swear, if you say "Little Dragomirs,’ you can sleep in the hall’

I’, but another knock cut him off He looked up in exasperation "Don’t answer it For real this time’

But Lissa couldn’t help herself She broke from his embrace and climbed out of bed "Its not Adrian ’

"Then it’s probably not important,’ said Christian

"We don’t know that’She got up and opened the door, revealing--my mother

Janine Hathaept into the room as casually as Adrian had, her eyes sharp as she studied every detail around her for a threat "Sorry I ay,’ she told Lissa "Eddie and I wanted to set up an alternating systelanced over at the ru who she was, she caured you’d want to sleep after the test Don’t worry--I’ll keep watch andhappens’

Christian and Lissa exchanged rueful looks

"Thanks,’ said Lissa