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"Safe fro the arsonist in New Orleans whoht, and Alexandra’s own deteriven her a recklessness that e from the house "Here is Jaus Be polite"

"Polite how, exactly?" She took off her coat "Be polite as in kiss his ass, flutter , act all master-whipped--"

"I e for but not flanking hikenis, Alexandra Keller"

"The delight is mine" Jaus bowed, then offered his hand "I only wish I had happier news for you, seigneur" He turned to Alexandra, executed a second,the back of her hand "Valentin Jaus, at your service"

The scent of camellias surrounded them and blended with the smell of roses and lavender

Alexandra’s scowl deepened when Cyprien eyed her "Oh, I can talk now?" She faced Jaus "Dr Alex Keller Services occasionally provided, but only if I like you" She frowned for a moment, as if she hadn’t aze ard, then,our friends," she told hie way"

Jaus refrained from a formal staff presentation and merely introduced his seneschal, Falco, and his tresora, Sacher

"Welcome to Derabend Hall," Falco said to Cyprien His dark eyes flicked toward Alexandra, and his kenis?"

Alex saw Cyprien’s nod and planted her hands on her hips "Does everyone have to ask before they talk to me?"

"Only if they are Kyn," Cyprien said, "and only if they belong to another jardin"

"Great" Alex huffed out some air "More rules to remember"

Falco performed a proper, rather chilly bow before he returned to his place behind Jaus Sacher, as not required to adhere to such for her with a nosegay of pale apricot tea roses

"These are lovely, thank you" Alex buried her face in the blooave Michael an arandson, Gregor?" Cyprien asked hi out of his wardrobe Every time I look at the boy, he has shot up another inch" The old man’s sratulations on your elevation to seigneur The high lord could not have o inside?" Jaus asked "I expect a call frolanced at Sacher, and then at Alexandra

"May I show your lady our beautiful gardens?" the tresora asked, picking up the subtle hint "I think Dr Keller would enjoy seeing theone"

"Of course" He would have to see to recruiting a new tresora for himself when they returned to New Orleans Sacher was a treasure

"Maybe I don’t want to see the gardens," Alex muttered as Sacher took her arm in his and expertly steered her away frorownup vampires talk about"

"Very dull stuff," the elderly man said as he led her down the ay "I always findoff in the radually faded from the air

"She is clever and beautiful," Jaus said "Not quite what I had expected, however Does she always speak so…" He esture

Cyprien nodded "Always"

"Tremayne once said that you would ht the last of the light as he shook his head "I thought he ht of his convoluted relationship with Alexandra "There are many fields of battle, my friend"

After he directed his hunters to join the jardin’s and prepare for a night on the streets, Cyprien ith Jaus into his office "There has been no word of either Durand?"