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"Everything is so wrong," I said

"Not everything," Cri my hair "But it appears that Mr Goodwill isn’t all that he seems I can’t wait to ask him myself"

Thanks to the prejudice of the city, ere confined to Darkside for the night No Pinky inn would drea its doors to a Bludi on the opposite side of thethe bloodred door under the wooden sign showing three men in turbans, I felt Criant, and a dainty teenage Bludwo a very tall hat

"Good evening," she said with the same bouncy cockney accent I’d heard all over town "Can I help you?"

"We’d like a room, please, ern and Fevrier Blur"

"There’s a two-bedder available on the second floor, sir, or the penthouse," she said, bobbing a curtsy "Five coppers for the two-bedder, ten for the penthouse"

"We’ll take the two-bedder, thank you," he said, producing several coins fro them across the counter He smiled kindly and leaned forward to pluck another coin from her ear "And look at this! Miss, you led, and I could see that she was younger than she looked despite her low-cut gown As ed and left with our key, she scribbled in a giant black ledger, her tongue sticking out in concentration

The rooht and neat Dainty plates in colorful patterns hung from ribbons and clashed cheerfully with the wallpaper, which hite with green vines Cried off his new coat and put out his hand to me I didn’t knohat he wanted, but I held my hand out anyith a little flutter infor the snake around my wrist

"Time to see what your little Uro can do," he said

He pushed the button, and Uro ca out on the table His head swiveled until it found ue shot out once in what seeuard," Criuard," I said

The red eyes flashed once, and the snake’s head rose as his body went rigid and his tail split into three separate sections He was now a sort of tripod, and his head slowly spun around, taking in everything What a handy device

"I think we’re safe here," Crier that little lass at the front counter wouldn’t give us away for all the world Let’s sleep, and we’ll start over in the et the bed closer to the door"

I disappeared into the bathrooe Fortunately, the new dress unlaced in such a way that I could get out on h experience with a corset to handle that myself, too I splashed water on my face and used a towel to scrub off the htdress

Todeeply under the covers I had forgotten that he had spent the previous nights watching over my body as I slept--he had to be exhausted

His back was to me, and I was undeniably drawn to him It was rare to see hifirm control of the situation at hand His bare shoulder peeked fro to either side There was a small scar there, pink like a burn, and I unconsciously reached out to trace it with a finger, wondering what sort of creature or weapon could actually wound him

Just as I touched his skin, surprised as ever to find hiasped as he rolled to his back, pulling me down on top of him on the narrow bed

His eyes burned into

"Surely this is a dreaht you were asleep," I said I tried to draay, but his bare hands settled on own, I could feel the hard planes of his body and the hint of claws prickling my skin

"Asleep? With you that close and watchful? A predator like me? Never," he said, voice husky

"You must be tired I’m sorry I bothered you"

I was flustered, and I tried to press up with ainst his A slow s to escape, love It’s heavenly No bother at all"

He shifted sinuously beneatha question I wasn’t ready to answer I letmy flushed face into his neck before he could see nore his body and hed into his hair, awash in his scent With an answering sigh, he shifted ainst his side, his arm around me We barely fit on the mattress, but it didn’t occur to me to leave

"You’re still skittish, little love Nohy is that?" he whispered in roaned as I shifted against him

"I’m scared," I whispered back into the darkness of his hair

He fir mine