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His snort was disparaging "What, to find your mother’s murderer? Do you honestly think she has any intention of allowing that? Or that she even cares, now that she has what she wants? You, in her pocket?"

My unease grew Why the hell was he saying all this? I had no daood reason "There are Cazadors working--"

"There was one He found no clues, just as the Directorate found no clues Your host, for all the evidence he left behind"

I flexed reed to help her if she helped ement"

Yet, I added silently

"Not unless you have the help of soht The twist in the tale fate just loved applying to rih council, but I do know that if you thought yourself her e her anyti by the rules She doesn’t, so I see no reason for me to do so"

Wonderful Another scheht now "If you’re so powerful, how coer of a club like this?" I hesitated, then added rather hastily, "No offense esture that nevertheless ht the muscular nature of his are of keeping him out of Hunter’s eye, I suspected Just as I suspected that thisto anyone but the owner

"Why are you saying all this to me?" I asked, a little hesitantly "Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell Hunter? Or that she’ll pick the conversation out of hts?"

"Do I fear the former? No" He leaned forward and crossed his arms on the desk "As to the latter, she is welcome to whatever remnants she can retrieve past those nano cells She knows I plot, just as I know she plots It is a ga time"

"Well, it’s not one I want to be in the ht in theless"

"Hunter intends to use you and the keys to become overlord of the council"

"And you don’t?"

He smiled It was quite a pleasant smile compared to Hunter’s, but that didn’tas she was

"No, actually, I don’t I just believe that the council--and the world in general--would not only be better off if the gate situation reely nicer place to live in without her polluting presence"

A sentiree with--and I had to wonder if he was choosing his words to

"I see no point in falsehoods," he co soreatest asset when it co else I could agree with "Look, I’m really not interested in either your plans or Hunter’s I just want to do what I have to do to get free"

"Which you will not do without assistance"

I couldn’t help s way, but I veryfro pan into the fire"

"Oh, I am far more honorable than Hunter And I, at least, aood job of hiding it" I didn’t like her I didn’t trust her But she would hardly be head of the Directorate and a high-ranking h vamp council if she was off her rocker The vamps, at the very least, would not have stood for it

"Oh, trustwhat she truly is"

"And you, of course, are a paragon of honesty"

He conceded that point with a regal incline of his head and a half se your mind And I veryblood until that happens," I said, "because you ht well starve"

Amusement crinkled the corners of his brown eyes "I’m tempted to ask if you’d like to bet on that, but I suspect you are not the betting kind"

"Not on stuff like this" I crossed aze briefly dropped It was only then I re a short skirt I cleared et back to the reason I’ain, his expression still amused "What do you wish to know about our Ms Jodie Summer?"

"For a start, have you used her before?"

"No Whenever we need to cover a shift, we siency is Classique?"