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They had tried to protect Cristál by denying she existed, denials that Donatien had quickly reduced to pleas and sobs The girl had been clever, too, hiding away at night and resisting his lures The entire reat deal of Donatien’s valuable ti which souerite, to spirit away his Cristál

The years of searching did not sting as much as the nun who had deceived him She had sworn he would never touch Cristál or her, and had settled thefire to the convent where he had found them Fool that he was, he truly believed the old bitch and his pearl had been consuuerite Aretino’s actual death years brought tears of hope and joy to Donatien’s eyes, or would have, had his tear ducts still functioned Further inquiries confirmed that she had not, in fact, killed herself or Cristál She had faked everything in order to escape to A from an old Kyn ally that the Spaniard lived in south Florida as well, serving as seneschal to the newly-appointed suzerain, had been Fate’s dessert course

Arranging for the Spaniard to meet Cristál had been a siether, Donatien’s old love and his neould becos for each other, at least for as long as they could feel soht out displays of herois

The Spaniard had honor, and Daniela coratulate hi around-the-clock surveillance on the convent Such a terribly , but he had been there to see her being carried out in the arht with the hellfire eyes

Noould have theel

"ID’s,’ the large, fat man dressed as an evil clown at the entrance to the fetish club said as they stopped before him

Donatien patted non-existent pockets "Dear ed his accessories forward "Of course, ave his colance "We don’t ade friends"

"Fortunately I am a libertine, not a pervert," Donatien said "My coo"

"Look, rab the front of his jacket

"Mind your bowels, youngone hand on the bouncer’s frilled sleeve "One never knohen their contents are about to exit in a decidedly explosive manner"

The bouncer’s hand dropped to clutch at his abdoh his clenched teeth as he doubled over

"We’ll see ourselves in, thank you" Donatien guided his accessories to the door

The grueso members of Club Dominion never failed to cheer up Donatien, who led his accessories to the best table in the house The occupants, clad as they were in various rigs of leather and chains, rose from their seats as soon as they spotted hiraced theraines

Now to find the last pawn

The assistant er of the club, a fellow nain Queen Elizabeth’s maidenhead, appeared with taitresses and a staff dohastly costumes and makeup

"Your Excellency," Butcher said, and bowed "You’re early tonight We are honored"

"You are likelyfriends mineral water"

Butcher dispatched one waitress with a snap of his black-nailed fingers, and sent the other staffexhibition "Your Excellency, may I ask if you have seen the club’s owner, Erik? He was the young man who left with you last week, and no one has heard froht"

"Erik decided to n over this establishment to me before he left Would you care to run it fordeeply "I will not disappoint you, Your Excellency"