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She put a hand to her chest and drew in a deep breath She worked to keep tears froave a little wave and smiled, not certain what else to do
Whistles followed The applause grew louder Executives froether
An assistant, a fe woman quieted everyone with two raised hands She turned to face Alison "We have been anticipating your arrival, ascender Wells We welcome you to Second Earth and to our offices We wish you every blessing as you serve Madaain, welcoain thundered through the long crammed space and only stopped when Madame Endelle appeared at the end of the corridor off to the left The slight bristling of her enorold this tied her staff, she addressed Alison, "Well, I sure as hell hope you’re ready for this" She drew her wings abruptly into her wing-locks, a movement that caused a breeze to flow over Alison as well as a slight scent of ani stripes, siether, et started Take these"
She waved her hand and an old-fashioned stenographer’s pad and pen appeared in the air in front of Alison She grabbed thehed Had Her Supre hall of offices to a massive executive suite at the very end With zebra hides scattered over the floor, the room reflected an essential part of Endelle’s unique persona A massive slab of white marble formed the top of her desk and was supported by … elephant tusks?
"Woolly mammoth," Endelle said She dropped into her black chair draped hat looked like an Appaloosa horsehide She narrowed her eyes at Alison "Now, let’s get one thing straight I’al issues to resolve before you are granted guardian status So don’t even think about taking a high tone withde while"
"Yes, Madame Endelle"
Alison couldn’t repine She had what she desired e of powers, and a real hottie of a va her blood, and exploring herto his body stroking hers then his tongue doing such things … okay, better to stay focused on the business at hand
"No Go right ahead," Endelle said, having clearly dipped into her uarded her thoughts, blanking out in order to keep her private life private She set her s she had done, like putting cups in the dishwasher this ht side
Endelle rolled her eyes "You are no fun at all"
Plates stacked on the bottom We need more coffee since Kerrick prefers his like mud Maybe purchase a second coffeerocery stores on Second look like I think I’II bring flowers hoh," Endelle cried "You will bore "
Alison s for her new life She was happy to be across froht now, if Endelle asked her, she’d drop down and kiss the woh the roohter anew "All right, let’s talk about what I expect of you"
Alison sat down opposite her and listened She Who Would Live spoke long and eloquently about the nature of her duties, which covered everything froh Adlobe "And I want you to teach those idiots at the training calad you’ve come, Alison I trust I don’t have to tell you how i I say to you from this moment on leaves either this room or your mind Do you understand?"
"Of course," Alison said
Endelle forether on the desk "Now, let’s talk about Leto"
That night, Kerrick sat at the bar at the Blood and Bite, the music off for the moment, the strobes quiet Only a few couplesthe ht’s work He had shared dinner with Alison then shared her body but before he knew it, he was back to his duties as a Warrior of the Blood
He’d barely touched his Maker’s All his brothers had gathered around him but no one had asked the question that burned in the air, all but sending ss to the rafters
Words weren’t sufficient anyway, so he extended his right ar on his wrist was visible
"Holy shit," Luken o slapped Kerrick on the shoulder "Fuck"
"Yeah," he responded He nodded He tried to think what the hell to say to them Even now, he knew exactly where Alison was … in the kitchen ehed
A ripple of tension passed through the ot plunked down on the bar Sa as needed Fire went down throats
Still, the warriors didn’tto relieve the intense curiosity He opened his estured with a palrimaced, he shook his head He felt co, but what?
Heaven, however, seemed like too small a word Rapture fell flat Extraordinary was … well … just ordinary