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There was startled silence; then the crowd reacted, half in exultation, half in buzzing, whispered dismay It took me a moment to realize why Until now, Leo hadn’t named a clan heir Clearly some of the vamps in the place didn’t like his choice Despite myself, I took note of asn’t pleased and wasn’t afraid to demonstrate it The ht ht be Rafael Torrez, heir to Clan Mearkanis--blood- was declared true-dead A nue his reaction

Violence and dominance pheroenial se to his voice that hadn’t been there an instant gone, though he didn’t look Torrez’ way "And asin the hospitality of my house, I trust you will abide by all conventions and protocols in welco new Mithrans and my clan heir"

It took a moment, but Torrez visibly controlled himself and plastered a false smile on his face He pushed to the front of the crohere he took A I missed With the kiss, the entire rooured that whatever was afoot in va on in the hu to take a backseat to the celebration

I got a look at the new vamps They weren’t uncontrolled, ready to vaant, sophisticated, and rich So I avoided theood look at Leo’s son, who appeared genial, urbane, and approachable However, when I got close, he turned fast, eyes going va the crowd, so I ducked ement if he came on to the little nonhuman in the room for a quick snack I haunted the back hallways instead

Near four, after avoiding Leo and Bruiser in a cat and irl," I slipped outside and called Bluebird Cab Rinaldo, off froht, picked me up half an hour later, full of startled questions now that his regular passenger had co about an invitation I hadn’t realized would be so vaet out of there--all true--then sat silent in the backseat, holding myself separate fro for a trip through a fast-food joint

There were violent undercurrents in the vamp social fabric, riptides of political unrest, proble that cop Jodi Richoux would wanton pain of that slow and grisly death, as spelled out in my contract AndI had created friction between Bruiser and his boss I was still beating myself up about both probleain

Monday in New Orleans is laid-back Not as relaxed as Fridays, but close, though without the dedicated party expectation of the day before the weekend I elected to stroll, but with purpose, revisiting all the places I had been and places Beast had shown an interest in

Wearing o pants, a tank top, and flip-flops, I tied two crosses around my waist and stuffed a stake in h I didn’t really think I’d be out long enough to lose the protection of daylight I added sunglasses Dressed like a local, I strolled, sniffed, and -shopped

I don’t wear much jewelry, as a hurried shift will leave it broken in the dust, along with torn andand a nugget-style necklace in theof a narrow storefront, I couldn’t helpthe set, along with the gold chain and nugget I seldom took off The new necklace was made of Baltic amber, warht out the a as pecans and looked really good with the gold nugget The silver setting of the ring was styled like cat’s claws holding the stone It was destiny The set looked really classy against irls froold and silver, they weren’t here to teasefor the a the path Beast had taken on her first tracking expedition My nose is better than most humans for reasons I’m not entirely certain about, but I put it down to the nuht the one, never to be recovered, but since Aggie and Leo had brought so, three-dimensional, five-sense clarity, perhaps there were others, deeply buried Really deeply buried

Three blocks from the river, I spotted Antoine down the block from the hole-in-the-wall eatery Rick had taken y shorts, rope sandals, and dreadlocks in a thick ponytail knotted at his nape with rope The hair threwwhite chef’s hat before He didn’t see me, so I stepped into a recessed door and watched He was in a hurry, heading away fro hard and fast A man with purpose So I followed Hands in pockets, I a back, lazy and innocent buthim in the tourist crowd He ducked into a side door of the Royal Mojo Blues Company "Well, well, well," I murmured to myself Did I follow? Not sure, and content to just watch, I sat at the tiny table of an outdoor café, ordered beignets--French donuts--and a hot chai despite the heat, studying the RMBC, lazing and calling it work Nothing e of scents on the wind

I wasn’t far froue had taken down the cops That could be coincidence--the Quarter was small, after all--and Beast had noted a lot of vamp activity, but I didn’t knohat to make of Antoine’s destination While I people watched, I sweated and rested in the slow, heated breeze, eating three beignets, which left a dusting of powdered sugar on my shirt Threeskirt and lots of dangling jewelry Unlike Antoine, all went in through the front door, though the restaurant wasn’t open, a CLOSED sign in the front as getting interested I caught the eye of the waiter and held up a ten, which I left on the table for the bill and a comfortable tip

Antoine had entered at the side, near the outdoor seating, so I hopped the gate and followed through that door, which swung on silent hinges Not breaking and entering exactly, but trespassing for sure Inside, the heat, which I had sootten as I sat and sipped tea, was shut out, the air colder than the inside of a refrigerator Chill bumps rose on my arms as I stood in the blackness and let my eyes adjust

The restaurant and dance hall smelled of old smoke, old beer, cleansers, a rease, fish, beef, spices and peppers, andas I waited I followed the faint prickle of power on the air, Antoine’s power, fale, as if the pads itched

I followed the power signature through the club as easily as a scent, leading me to the back I could still smell Bliss’ blood, and an aro, and another witch scent, a spicy and tantalizing perfunature The scent perfectly fit the wo skirt and jewelry

A door opened Theit at the front of the building "Marceline? Anna? Y’all here yet?" It was the Joe Rick Which was just one coincidence too many Or was it? Beast woke and ru scents as well as I could in this forarette sic tothat if I just stayed put and asked as going on, I’d be hustled off, so I looked for a hiding place Nothing No closets, no cupboards I peered into the dark overhead The ceiling was about fifteen feet abovewith the exposed ductwork, wires, and fixtures Beast liked the big duct, and I got an ie tree limb on which to lie in wait for unwary prey I could probably make the top of the duct if I jumped from the bar

Beast fast, I raced from the shadows and leaped to the bar top Crouched on the balls of both feet and the knuckles of one hand Scanned the rooed the distance, ju toward the o for mirrors? So unhappy drunks can watch themselves cry? So drinkers on the prowl can look for likely sex partners? My fingers slipped and Beast swattedthe swing to getcutting into hteen inches wide, painted white to reflect tiny lights, which were off Dust bunnies swirled around e of a rabbit the size of a srinned and swiveled into a comfortable seat shadowed by, instead of on top of, the duct Fro: tables, a curtained area behind the band’s stage, a long rack of individual keys behind a sign over the cash register And Rick, walking into the roo to hi Old cigar is another thing entirely

"In here," Antoine said, e from the back Not from the hallway to the restroo I had ht and not visible from the shadows of the side door or over the bar "Ricky-bo," he said as the ain; Rick turned A woman entered, a shawl around her head and shoulders despite the heat The two exchanged a look as she folded the shawl Her scent reached ue valy, she looked familiar, but I couldn’t place her Had I passed her on the street? Not at Sunday church service, surely, not with her understated elegance This woant, blue eyes and peaches-and-cream skin, silk and linen and delicate shoes, probably Italian Big dia with a wedding band Married To Rick? Surprising jealously zinged through me On its heels came the certainty that she was married to someone else, not Rick The jealousy faded, but not ed in the first place Rick was too devious forWhich hy Beast liked hihts in the tile" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">