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Saetan forced himself to focus on Karla and Gabrielle It would be the last time he would ever see theet the dauided Saetan to a couch and pushed hiuardian in the "

"Were those her exact words?" Gabrielle asked sharply

"What difference does it make?" Andulvar snarled "She s, you son of a whoring bitch," Karla screamed at him"What did she say?"

"Stop it!" Saetan shouted He couldn’t stand having theer "She said--" His voice cracked He clamped his hands between his knees, but it didn’t stop the "She said when the sun next rose they could appoint another guardian unless they reconsidered their decision by then"

The ed to a little uneasiness blended with strong approval and calm acceptance Puzzled, Saetan watched them

Karla plopped down on the couch beside him and wrapped her arht here and ith you"

"Thank you, but I’d rather be alone" Saetan tried "to rise, but Chaosti’s stare unnerved his

"No, you wouldn’t," Gabrielle said, squeezing past Andulvar so that she could settle on the other side of hi, but failing, to get that soft thunder into his voice

Chaosti, Khary, and Aaron for hann and the rest of the coven circled the couch, trapping hi stupid, Uncle Saetan," Karla said gently Her wicked smile bloooing to want to miss it"

Saetan stared at her She knehat he intended to do Defeated, he closed his eyes Today, tomorrohat difference did it make? But not while they were still here He wouldn’t do that to theled close to hiirls drifted toward the other couches

Khary rubbed his hands together "Why don’t I see if Mrs Beale is willing to brew up soood, too," Aaron said enthusiastically "And soo with you"

"SaDiablo?" Andulvar said on an Ebon-gray spear thread

Saetan kept his eyes closed "I won’t do anything stupid"

Andulvar hesitated "I’ll tell Mephis and Prothvar"

No reason to answer No answer to give Because of hiuardian welcome the wolves and the unicorns? Would he welcore, the centaurs and satyrs? Or would she be forced to sneak an hour with them now and then, as she had done as a child?

As the hours passed and the children dozed in chairs or on the floor around hio He’d savor this tiht and warmth of Karla’s and Gabrielle’s heads nestled on his shoulders Tih to deal with the painafter the sun rose

"Wake up, SaDiablo"

Saetan sensed Andulvar’s urgency but didn’t want to re-

spond, didn’t want to tear the veil of sleep where he’d found a little comfort

"Damn it, Saetan," Andulvar hissed,"wake up"

Reluctantly, Saetan opened his eyes At first he felt grateful that Andulvar stood in front of hi Then he realized the candlelights were lit, and necessary, and there was a flicker of fear in the Eyrien’s eyes

Andulvar stepped aside

Saetan rubbed his eyes Soht Karla and Gabrielle had sluhs for pillows He couldn’t feel his legs

He finally looked at the s

It was dark

Why was Andulvar shoving hilanced at the clock on the ht o’clock

"Mrs Beale wants to know if she should serve breakfast," Andulvar said, his voice strained

The boys began to stir

"Breakfast?" Khary said, stifling a yawn as he ran his fingers through his curly brown hair "Breakfast sounds grand"