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Then Neferet’s world had changed She relived the thrill of it--of knoas within the cat’s mind She didn’t hear actual words--cats don’t think in words She heard emotions, and the emotions told stories Chloe beamed mischief Her belly was full and warm and she was sleepy But most important, the cat looked into her eyes with love and loyalty and joy, and chose Neferet as her own for life

Pandeia, longtih Priestess in St Louis, had not called her a si had gone to her, holding a sleeping Chloe, and describing with breathless wonder the dreaes she could pull froh Priestess, I can touch your cat’sto the va on the sill "She is happy, very happy, because she is pregnant!"

The High Priestess’s s "Dear Neferet, Nyx has granted you a wonderful affinity, a special attachment to cats, the animal most closely associated with our Goddess Nyx lorious day faded and Neferet’s experience changed Months passed as quickly as the Tsi Sgili’s rapid heartbeat

She was still a fledgling, but older Her council was valued--first because of her connection to the felines that roalings and vaun with cats, soon it had become apparent that Neferet was able to touch people’s es lifted fro in their speed:

"Neferet, it would be helpful if you ca restless again at the thought of our full one with Pandeia, opening herself to the onslaught of fear and hatred and envy that the local huh they either simpered and tipped their hats to her, or averted their eyes and pretended not to see her

Neferet began to loathe going to town

"Neferet, the human Consort of our new professor seems sad; it would be helpful if you could tell me if he wishes to leave, but is fearful to ask," Pandeia had asked at another time

Neferet had slipped within the man’s mind The human hadn’t been sad He had been unfaithful to his vaht hours while she slept to gamble and whore on riverboats

The professor had sent hi on to another, ht

But Neferet had found it hard to forget what she had touched within the reed and desire It had sickened her

Seeing how h Priestess valued her counsel, others ca the answers hidden beneath the masks of others

As Neferet relived the experiences, she felt the resentun within her then They were all so needy! Even the High Priestess

"Neferet, tell me if that Son of Erebus Warrior thinks I’m truly beautiful…"

"Neferet, I want to know ifme the truth about…"

"Neferet, tell ili shivered, though still she did not awake as experience after experience, memory after memory, assaulted her so rapidly that they bled into one another, becoreed, desire and betrayal, lies and lust

Darkness saved her As when she had been Eardens of Tower Grove The ht were fa the night to her, so that others looked right over and past her, and never seeing…

Chloe understood She was intelligent and precocious, and no ht Neferet had overheard, she found a way to s she was learning never to say aloud--never to show to other fledglings--never, ever to reveal to any vampyre

"I hate it when Pandeia asks me to listen in to a hu Neferet had told her purring feline "They are all vile Their thoughts are obsessed with our bodies--with possessing us--even though their fear is so strong it almost has a scent: sour breath, sweat, and insatiable desire"

Chloe had touched noses with her and rubbed her face against her cheek, filling her with unconditional love and acceptance