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"Yeah, definitely a caste systele it"

"I mean it as no insult to you, Te She pulled it out and saas Justin Vallaena touched her hand "Can you return his call in a few minutes? I would ask you to hearVallaena was nothing if not polite But her designation as Anae meant this woman kne to survive spawn politics That erous and far more experienced than Elyssa’s handful of years And speaking to Justin in front of this wo Elyssa said could give away too much She slid the phone back into her pocket "Who’s thewith David?"

"Such information is beyond the confines of our discussion, I’m afraid"

"Is he with you?"

Vallaena shook her head "In some ways, but not in others"

As if that made any sense "Is he spawn?"

A patient smile drew up the corners of the other woman’s face "As I said, details of such a nature are beyond the confines of our conversation I would ask we return to the subject at hand As firstper him as my ward I can assure you he would be well protected"

"From what? The way I understand it he needs protection froht now in no uncertain terms I will never betray him to you" She also wanted to add a few other less polite terms but the inquisitive Templar part of her brain wanted to squeeze the woman for more information

"This would be no betrayal, Elyssa You would deliver hiather and it is in our best interests to shield hi o on For all I know you just want to brainwash him while he’s still new to the coet rid of hi"

Vallaena shuddered delicately and pursed her lips as if she’d just tasted a le about our inner politics, you would kno distasteful it is to even speak with Castratae I believe, however, this situation can be redeemed and your mate’s status can be raised a notch Perhaps even to Denae should he work hard to earn it"

It was Elyssa’s turn to shudder "Not to be i and your politics belong to the dustbin of history I won’t do anything to help you In fact, I’ll do everything I can to keep Justin out of your hands"

"What if ere to offer rescission?"

"Of what?"

"The death mark upon that" She nodded toward David, a look of revulsion on her beautiful features

"You’re the ones who put out the hit?"

"I did not, no Nor do I knoho did or believe it originated fro infore terms for a rescission of the contract" She raised an eyebrow "What do you say now?"

"Still no"

Vallaena sighed and gave a sad shake of her head Men at the center table had been eyeing her for soh most of theht and out of shape One took out a coood But Vallaena’s beauty trapped their gazes, captivating thelue trap A column in theher, and Elyssa was certain the wo I can say to change your ed at Elyssa’s face "Tell er I want specifics If you’re so concerned about his well-being, help me protect hiers into scare her into cooperation

"I wish I could give you specifics but our information is rather nebulous at this point"

"Nebulous inforer?"

A hint of uncertainty crossed Vallaena’s face Elyssa wasn’t sure if the woed a nugget of honest eer I’m sure of it"

Elyssa’s senses prickled She looked up in tilare from only a few feet away He bared his teeth and clenched his fists as he stared at Vallaena The other wohed "I think this will be rather unpleasant"

Chapter 15

Stacey woke e "I think your Mr Sether, or maybe it was that I craved sleep so badly they just didn’t want to open But the urgency of contacting Mr Sy to pullposition in the back seat of the car I didn’t re I reo for a walk, and Ryland doing the sa for the gold star of good behavior, but I wasn’t handing out any gold stars or smiley faces until my dad was safe from assassination At that point they could let the fur fly for all I cared and beat each other silly I sat up, od-awful crao away My super-recuperative abilities could take care of such things in a hurry I hoped enerated fast so I didn’t have to put up with feeling like crap for er