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The frown deepened "LordSocks ? What was his nainally?"

A blush stained Jaenelle’s cheeks "I couldn’t remember, and the puppy won’t say When I asked Ladvarian, he said, ‘Socks is an easy name for humans to rehed

Then she looked at him in a way that filled his sto has a price, old son You made a promise It’s time to pay the debt Time to pay off all the debts, actually

"I have an appoint for you to return hoe in her eyes, in her psychic scent

"An appointment," Witch said

Not a question Seventy-two hours had passed since he’d set his little game in motion He had no doubt the first half of the debt had been paid in full Noas time to end it

And Witch knew it

"I’ve already informed Mrs Beale that I won’t be home for dinner" Informed Beale, actually He’d hadn’t wanted to be the one to tell Mrs Beale--and her un preparations for the evening meal "After I return, I’m available for whatever help you ith your spooky house"

Her s

"I’ll look forward to it," she said

Hell’s fire, Mother Night, and may the Darkness be merciful

After Jaenelle walked out of the study, he sat there for several row sos and strap some steel to his spine

He’d made a promise to his Queen To his wife And he would keep it

But he had another promise to keep first

Pressed into a corner, Jarvis Jenkell curled up a little tighter

Her little surprises are nowwith your intentions for this house They all have teethThat’s what Sadi had said about Tersa’s illusions And he’d been right

The beetles The spiders Even the skeletonall over hi up, and then…Thoseteeth ! Biting through his clothes Biting through his skin Chewing their way into hi no marks, no trace But his flesh remembered the sensation, the pain Just like the flesh remembered…

No scuff of shoe on wood No sound at all But he kneas no longer alone Kneas going to happen Again Knew the pleasure would be as cold-blooded and er knehich orse to endure

The Sadist had arrived

"Let this end," Jarvis whispered "I’ you Let this end"

The Sadist stared at hiard

"Yes," Daemon said softly "The debt to the SaDiablo family has been paid in full" He took a step toward Jarvis Took another "Now it’s time to pay the debt you owe the Warlord Prince of Dhemlan"

Witchfire took the house, and it burned fast and hard Witchfire forrown, and burned fierce enough to partially ht-iron fence that surrounded the property

Witchfire, fueled by a Black Jewel, burned through the spells and consumed the power that remained in the Blood who had been trapped in the house; it finished the kill and freed them to become a whisper in the Darkness

With one exception

The boy sneaked glances at the Warlord Prince who had rescued him from the house The Prince hadsaid he was the Eyrien Prince’s brother, and the boy wasn’t about to call his

Besides, even though thetohim , the boy was pretty surethis Prince was even scarier than the Eyrien Prince

"Will I have to go to school?" the boy asked "I’o to school"

"That’s soh Lord," the Prince said

"Oh"

The ht to avoid Warlord Princes when their eyes were glazed because that’s when they were the erous But since he’d ended up dead because the Jenkell ured it was better to ask about thingsnow

"I like learning about some stuff," the boy offered

A little warmth came into those cold eyes "Then you should ers ere running toward the fire "Come on, puppy It’s time to leave"

He followed the Prince to the s would be nicer than the spooky house

Even if he did have to go to school