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"But Victoria?"
"Is apparently otherwise occupied"
Kritanu looked at hi suspiciously like pity in his handsome face "And you shan’t tell her you’re here?"
"I have no desire to be ordered about, as she would be wont to do To be at her beck and call I’er a Venator, and can be of little use to her or to any of you"
"Then why come to London? The world is vast, and there are many places to hide from Lilith that she would never suspect"
No one was more acutely aware of that fact than Max himself But he’d been compelled to come to London, foolish as it had been
He bloody well could have gone on, knowing that it would be safer for everyone if he went to Spain or Denmark or America, or even the wilds of Africa Lilith would never find hiet had raised the concern about Victoria, leaving Max with little choice but to assure hi his job as protector quite seriously
At least Max could give hi hihtly easier topic "Briyani and I were in Vauxhall, looking for vaot separated I found some undead, but he never returned to our rooms I returned to Vauxhall hours later and found no trace of him"
"Briyani wanted to be a Venator," Kritanu said "He was a better Comitator than he would have been as a Venator, but he was preparing to attempt the trial for the vis bulla I suspect he would not have succeeded, for although he was very brave, and a skillful co a cool head under pressure"
Max looked at the swaddled corpse Grief stirred again, more deeply "I didn’t know of his intentions" The flash of a memory of his own trial, where he knew the choice was either success or death, assaulted him He’d been more prepared for death than for success, for only five men over the centuries had ever achieved the vis bulla without the blood of the Gardellas in their veins
Kritanu turned froo?"
"I’ve neglected it as of late" Yet, his body desired it--the quick, measured swipes with the kadhara knife, the kicks and leaps and thrusts of hand-to-hand kalaripayattuand especially, the easy gliding of qinggong, where his body actually left the ground in long, sweeping arcs
"Why should you do so? A lack of vis bulla does not eliminate what you have learned these years, Max"
A soft scuff drew their attention to the entrance to the chapel, and Max ian to slip into the shadowy alcove next to the altar It was better for Victoria not to knoas here
But it wasn’t Victoria who moved toward them
"Pesaro Such an unexpected pleasure," Sebastian said as he drew near
Max sensed an air of frustration about Vioget and saw no reason to let it pass "It’s rather early to be ending the evening, isn’t it? I thought you’d be engaged er" He scanned the other h still tied at the throat, was et’s eyes narrowed, but then he smiled coolly "If it’s Victoria for whom you’re concerned, allow me to assure you that she’s happily ensconced in her bedcha of Circe and Odysseus in full view" He assuold frame hadn’t been moved "Not the finest rendition, but an acceptable one nevertheless"
Vioget’s expression darkened, validating Max’s assued into another smile, laced with conte around London, unwilling to show your face?"
"There’s no reason--"
"I disagree She should know you’re here, so that arrangements can be made to see to your protection I’ll be certain to advise her of your presence" Vioget fairly oozed condescension and confidence and Max felt a sharp pain shoot along his jaw as he ground his teeth "I’m certain she’ll want to see for herself that you’re safe, particularly in light of poor Briyani’s fate"
"It would delight you no end, wouldn’t it?" Max was under no illusion Vioget knew that he would show to his best advantage next to a weakened, vis bulla-less Max, who had been reduced to living on the run Merely amore than a bland smile
Six
A Crowded Parlor
Victoria kneould only be a matter of time before the news of James’s arrival spread But even she didn’t account for the efficiency of the gossip trail spread by the house servants--as evidenced by the presentation of Lady Melly in St Heath’s Row’s parlor scarcely past noon the next day
She wasn’t alone She’d brought reinforceing port to soundto the race today with Lord Jellington" Lady Melly’s beau had nearly lost his position when she was in Ro wooed by a handsoalado’s father<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>