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"No," Saetan said mournfully "We have typical afternoons, but I don’t think anyone would consider theh filled the room "Poor Papa Well, since I don’t have to dress up and simper, I’ll try not to offend their delicate sensibilities" She handed him a vial of black powder "Put a pinch of that in the bowl and stand back"

The butterflies in his storand tiers "Well, if I ht proportions to the spell, it’ll create an impressive illusion"

Saetan looked frohter to the bowl on the table to the vial in his hand "And if you didn’t ht proportions?"

"It’ll blow up the table"

An hour later, as he lay in a deep, hot bath, soaking the soreness out of his ive her full th of her protective shields Except for knocking theed anything in the roolass bowl and the table And he had to ad out of the bowl had been impressive

Two days from now, the Dark Council would come to the Hall He would show them courtesy and endure their presence because, in the end, it didn’tto take her away from him If the Council had to learn that lesson twice, so be it

He doubted it would co the awe-filledto rise fro, he let out a moan that turned into a chuckle The Dark Council wanted to spend a typical afternoon with Jaenelle?

The poor fools would never survive it

Chapter eight

1 / Kaeleer

It started going wrong the h the front door, looked around, and shivered

SaDiablo Hall was a dark-gray structure that rose above the land and cast a long shadow He’d built it to be i a stony-faced, Red-Jeweled butler frightening his guests before they even crossed the threshold As for the chill in the airHelene had let hiht of the Council co to poke and pry into her do away from the kitchen and Mrs Beale

Dark-Jeweled houses always had Blood servants, but whenall the witches in a household decided to express their displeasure, the phrase "cold co

"Good afternoon," Saetan said, coreet the twothe tistrostroht years, he had a kind face framed by a cloud of white hair and blue eyes that probably twinkled most of the tis-

trority and honor

Lord Friall, on the other hand, had already decided Weedy-looking for all the hair crea around with distaste and dabbing his lips with a scented, lace-edged handkerchief

Saetan led thereat hall It was a large rooed so that tall, painted screens could be placed across its width to divide it The screens were in place,this section appear cozy The plastered walls were painted ivory All the pictures were serene watercolors The furniture was dark but not heavy and coed over subtly patterned Dharo carpets There was a bouquet of fresh flowers on a table near the s Saetan watched Lord Magstrom tactfully look over the room and knew the man was as pleased with the tasteful decorations as he was

"It’s a delightful roostrom said as he accepted a seat "Do you use it often?"

Saetan shoved his hands into his sweater pockets "No," he said after a slight but noticeable hesitation "We don’t have uests" He turned toward a movement in the doorway "Ah, Beale"

The butler stood in the doorway, empty-handed

Saetan raised an eyebrow "Refreshuests?"

"They’ll be readythe door open

Saetan was teainst it No point forcing Beale to de at the keyhole

"Have we co pointedly at Saetan’s casual attire while he continued to pat his lips with the scented handkerchief

Perfu you, Lord Friall,Saetan thought coldlyMy psychic scent perlanced down at the white cotton shirt unbuttoned low enough so that the Black Jewel around his neck wasn’t completely hidden, the black cotton trousers that were already ru aHowever, since I had understood that the Council wanted soements, those two expectations are incoan, but he was cut off by Beale bringing in the refreshment tray

Saetan studied the tray It was sparse by Mrs Beale’s usual standards There were plenty of sandwiches but none of the nut cakes or spiced tarts "I don’t suppose Mrs Beale would--"