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"Put your plans together However, do not take even the smallest action until I have perin the moment the ascendiate has answered the call Are we clear?"

Crace stared at him, his lips parted Of course he knew the rules, he just couldn’t believe the sinment He even wondered why a et the job done

The Coh Administrator Crace?"

"Not at all"

Crace knew joy The sensation was a flock of butterflies flitting through his veins He got a hard-on the size of a sledgehah he knew he shouldn’t Maybe this was a simple for home to roost

A fever noorked in him "I will not disappoint you," he cried His hands shook The paper rattled between his fingers He had s he wanted to discuss with the Commander He had a thousand ideas about how to ad Order, the vast spectacle he would help create worthy of the Commander’s vision and power

Kill a mere mortal woman and he had a seat at Commander Greaves’s Geneva Round Table

Sweet, sweet Jesus

And he had soOrder

He was dizzy with excite day He was ready to speak, to share the enormous plans he had Instead the Co the interview I have other matters to attend to"

"Yes, yes, of course," Crace said, onceto his thighs The intervieas over

He bowed and remained in the subservient position as thewith a faint resinous s like paint thinner

A moment more and Greaves vanished At the same time, the pressure within Crace’s head eased

Of course Greaves had been in his head Of course Yet he had solanced at the paper One final task to complete, and not nearly as difficult as a dozen others he’d perfors He laughed and threw in a throaty growl He wished his ith hireat love of his life, the partner in his ambitions, the finest hostess of the North A ould understand the ht now, here in the office of his deity, on the Cone and co her to Phoenix Thile he took care of business He would have need of her, great desire for her body and for her blood

He glanced once more at the paper

Nohere, oh where, to find the ain … Kerrick dressed in black cargoes, a snug black tee, and steel-toed boots This time he pulled his hair back and secured the leather cadroen The ritual bound him to the warriors, to Second Earth, to his avowal of service to all ihts he wore flight gear to meet up with the warriors at the Blood and Bite, because for whatever reason the ladies always ht noever, he wasn’t in the mood

As Central folded him to the Mortal Earth club, he stood on the threshold and took a long look around, theover the dance floor He flared his nostrils and breathed in He was only concerned about one scent right now, although he feared the smell of lavender more than a hundred of the Co returned to hi relieved, he cursed Where the hell was she?

He ordered his rateful she hadn’t made her way here Alison Wells would do well to remain unknown, hidden in the safety of her life Any association with hi Thorne just a few hours ago: You ever had an itch you couldn’t scratch?

Fuck

He headed to the bar where Thorne, Medichi, Jean-Pierre, and Zacharius bellied up and drank, four of his warrior brothers Well, they all drank except Jean-Pierre He had his tongue in the ear of a brunette

Thorne sat in his usual spot, at the top of the bar where he had the best view of every corner of the room The club was full of Phoenix Two Militia Warriors who also had permanent passes to the Mortal Earth club Thorne made sure all the vaht now his right heel thumped to the music

Kerrick went down the row and slapped shoulders Medichi shoved an elbow at hilass of red wine in his hand Kerrick didn’t kno his brother could stand the shit

Zach presented his hand, and Kerrick grabbed five Zach drew him close "Heard Greaves ith the ascendiate," he shouted The ht and dark around like a pinball ed Jean-Pierre with a nod The brother was a little too busy to do more than cast an eye in Kerrick’s direction as he tended to the female Jean-Pierre was one helluva player, just as he’d been during his ame, no restrictions The woman leaned close, her lips parted, her body molded to the warrior

Kerrick turned around and headed back in Thorne’s direction The lighting over the bar cast spotlights over each stool, and the last thing he needed from Jean-Pierre was a visual reminder of what he wanted to do to Alison