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Locksley see about the strengths and weaknesses of the different archers in the competition Jayr listened andthe way, but found thather master’s scent The closer they drew to the ball the more it thinned, until it seeeness that had racked her also disappeared, leaving her as calm and collected as ever

Before they entered the hall, Jayr saw Will Scarlet waiting, and drew her arm from Locksley’s "This is where we must part ways, my lord Expect to hear my applause above that of your h the doors before he could respond

"Jayr" Harlech came to her side "You are later than I expected Have you seen Viviana?"

"Not yet" She scanned the crowd, looking for Byrne, and taking a sharp breath as the bizarre, heated ache returned and simht he would be with you Excuse me; I must find my wife" Harlech turned and hurried after one of Viviana’sto those who greeted her but feeling too distracted to converse Suzerain von Lichtenstein, a strapping Prussian in a red tunic eure of Aphrodite, asked her if she would deliver a note to the Lady Alexandra for hi the letter would contain a badly written poem, and that the suzerain would later call her and request she destroy it They had played this game of unrequited courtly love and courier with other females many times over the years

She found an empty table on the other side of the room and sat down to watch the dancers

Dressed in their finest, the Kyn filled the large dance floor with the owns The first of the dances had begun, with the livelyin the balcony above the floor

Nowhere, however, could she see Byrne

Chapter 13

Harlech had never hunted his oife, but exasperation and her continued absence left him no alternative He searched the ballroom until he picked up her scent and then followed its trail through the halls and into the guest wing From there he used his talent for sound to search for her voice

She did not often come here, but likely she had accompanied one of her friends to s as disasters during a dance

The trail of her scent ended at the door of Nottingham’s chambers, but even that did not alarm Harlech The dark lord’s manner and dress marked hi so of his He lifted his hand to knock, then stopped as he heard the Italian’s voice

"It is not enough, Ana I will have my due"

Ana? Harlech had never heard anyone call her by that name

His wife replied in a voice so bitter and cold Harlech al "Who do you think I am here? The lady? I am but a seamstress I have told you what I know I have done what I can do Release h "Your prison is of your own forging"

"As is yours Forget hi before you destroy yourself"

The despair in her voice made Harlech step back He moved around the wall and into the alcove beneath a here he could not be seen Soon afterward Viviana caht frohed as Viviana struck at his chest with her ser frout the Italian where he stood, only to freeze as Nottinghah your veins, Ana My mother may have been your ht her fist before it connected with his face, and took her into his arms The hot licorice shout the hall "You owe ht I helped you leave England, haotten all the nights we shared? Hoeetly you gave yourself to me? How I made you scream with pleasure?"

"I was a et how you used ed, her breath catching on a sob "Please, for the love of God, release me I honor ham stopped her words with his mouth

Harlech watched with a distant, icy wonder as his ithstood the kiss, and then slid her hands around the Italian’s waist

"You see, Ana," Nottingham whispered as he kissed a path down the side of her neck "You do reth "We will finish this later Come to me when he sleeps"

Viviana wiped her ain, it will be when you sleep, and the next caress I give you will be with ham smiled "I am all anticipation"