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"Seventeen hundred years?" Greer replied

Hekatah stopped pacing and nodded "Seventeen hundred years Ever since Daemon Sadi and Lucivar Yaslana were taken away froold eyes and smiled maliciously "How he must have hohen Dorothea denied hiht Cere his precious honor So he slunk away like a whipped dog, consoling himself that he still had the child Hayll’s Black Widows couldn’t claied herself "But Prythian had already gotten to the boy’s mother and told her all those wonderful half-truths one can tell the ignorant about Guardians It was one of the few things that winged sow has ever done right" Her pleasure faded "So why is he back?"

"Could--" Greer considered, shook his head

Hekatah tapped her fingertips against her chin "Has he

found another darling to replace his little pet? Or has he finally decided to turn Dhe else?"

She walked toward hi him wish he’d known her when he could have done more than just appreciate what her movements implied

"Greer," she crooned as she slipped her arainst him "I want a little favor"

Greer waited, wary

Hekatah’s coquettish smile hardened "Have your balls shrivelled up so quickly, darling?"

Anger flashed in Greer’s eyes He hid it quickly "You wantyou?" Hekatah pouted "No, darling, there’s no need for you to go to that nasty Hall We have a loyal ally living in Halaway He’s wonderful at sifting out tidbits of inforhtly kissed Greer’s lips "I think you’ll like him You’re two of a kind"

2 / Kaeleer

Beale opened the study door "Lady Sylvia," he announced as he respectfully stepped aside for Halaway’s Queen

Meeting her in the middle of the rooh Lord," she replied, placing her hands beneath his, pal wrists vulnerable to nails

Saetan kept his expression neutral, but he approved of the slight pressure pushing his hands upward, the subtle reth There were soain that the Dhemlan Queens in Terreilleand Kaeleer had o in order to protect the Dhemlan Territory in Terreille fro ruled by a male There were

some who had never understood that, in his oay, he had always served a Queen, that he had always served Witch

Fortunately, Sylvia wasn’t one of therande The day after she had formed her court, she had come to the Hall and had inforht exist to serve the Hall, it was her territory and they were her people, and if there was anything he wanted froe she would do her utmost to honor his request--provided it was reasonable

Saetan now offered her a warm but cautious smile as he led her to the half of his study that was furnished for less fore of one of the overstuffed chairs, he took a seat on the black leather couch, putting the width of the low blackwood table between them He picked up the decanter of yarbarah, filled one of the raven glass goblets, and war it to her

As soon as she took the glass, he busily prepared one for hi at her expression She probably had the saly bug that only a shtful

"It’s lamb’s blood," he said s at the knee

"Oh" She sot husky when she was nervous, he noted with aood And probably farthan the human blood you feared was

"It’s an acquired taste," Saetan said blandly Had Jaenelle tasted the blood wine yet? If not, he’d have to correct that omission soon "You’ve piqued my curiosity" He altered his deep voice so that it was coaxing, soothing "Very few

Queens would willingly have an audience with ht, let alone request one"