Page 38 (1/2)

I lifted y into the shield bracelet, and shouted, "Riflettuuns roared with fire and thunder Sparks showered off of a barrier less than six inches away frorearunfire atthrough the expensive ork and bouncing wildly around the room One of the vampires let out a yowl and dropped fro One of the security uns suddenly ju back, blood strea froy doesn&039;t tend to work too well arounduns ja their full clips, and the others fell silent, spent I still stood, one hand extended Bullets lay all over the floor in front of s of lead The security men stared, and stumbled away from me, behind Bianca and the vampires, and out the door I don&039;t blaun, and it had just been that useless, I would run, too

I took a step forward, scattering bullets with my bare feet "Get out of et hurt"

"Kyle," Bianca said, stroking Susan&039;s hair "Kelly She was quite mad in any case Not all of theaze traveled down to Susan

The smile I wore sharpened "Last chance, Bianca Let us out peacefully, and you walk away alive"

"And if I say no?" she asked, veryI lifted the blasting rod, whirled it around o!" Power exploded fro a solid scarlet coluy that lanced forward, toward the va She lifted her left hand, ather before her, a concave disk that y lance and absorbed it, scattered it, sent s on the floor in s puddles

I just stared at her for a moment I knew that she&039;d known solamour or two, htforward deflection wasn&039;t so just anyone could do Some of the people on the White Council couldn&039;t have stopped that shot without help

Bianca shed, hissing, inhuhter The hairs on the back of leefully up and down my spine

"Well, Mister Dresden," she purred "It would appear that Mavra was an able instructor, andof a standoff But there&039;s one more piece I&039;d like to put on the board" She clapped her hands, and gestured to one side

One of the va behind it, both hands on a stylish cane, stood a h the chest and shoulders He wore a tailored suit of dark grey in an immaculate cut He made me think of native South A features

"Nice suit," I told him

He looked me up and down "Niceducks"

"Okay," I said, "I&039;ll bite Who&039;s that?"

"My naa, of the Red Court"

"Hiya, Don," I said "I&039;d like to lodge a complaint"

He smiled, a show of broad, white teeth "I&039; the situation here And the Baroness," he nodded to Bianca, "has broken none of the Accords Nor has she violated the laws of hospitality, nor her own given word"

"Oh come on," I said "She&039;s broken the spirit of all of thea tsked "Alas, that in the Accords it was agreed that there is no spirit of the law, between our kinds, Mister Dresden Only its letter And Baroness Bianca has strictly adhered to its letter You have instigated multiple combats in her hoe to her property and her reputation And now you stand here prepared to continue your grievance with her, in a most unlawful and cavalier fashion I believe that what you do is sometimes referred to as &039;cowboy justice »

"If there&039;s a point in here, soa&039;s eyes glittered "I a, and the Vae That is all I am merely a witness"

Bianca turned her eyes back to me "A witness ill carry word of your treacherous attack and intrusion back to the Courts," she said "It will mean war between our kindred and the White Council"

War

Between the vampires and the White Council

Son of a bitch It was unthinkable Such a conflict hadn&039;t happened intime

I had to s, and hide the fact that I had just gulped "Well Since he isn&039;t running off to tattle right this second, I can only assume that you&039;re about to offer ht you were slow on the uptake, Mister Dresden," Bianca said "Will you hear my offer?"

I achedI had ridden the rush of h the last several moments, but I had spent a lot of that power It would co the batteries down - and the nore , the vampires had me over a barrel I needed a plan I needed a plan in the worst way I needed time

"Sure," I said "I&039;ll hear you out"

Bianca curled her fingers through Susan&039;s hair "First You shall be forgiven yourexcesses of bad taste of the last few days But for the two deaths, none of it is unworkable - and those tould have died shortly, in any case I will forgive you, Mister Dresden"

"That&039;s so kind"

"It gets better You may take your equipment, your skull, and the White bastard&039;s whore with you when you leave Unharmed and free of future malice All accounts will be called even"

I let the dry show in my tone "How could I possibly say no"

She smiled "You killed someone very dear to me, Mister Dresden - not directly, true, but your actions ive you"

I narrowed my eyes

Bianca ran her hands over Susan&039;s hair "This one will stay with me You stole away so to take away soave Ortega a very slanced at me and asked, "Well? What say you? If you prefer to remain with her, I&039;m sure a place could be made for you here After suitable assurances of your loyalty, of course"

I remained silent for a moment, stunned

"Well, wizard?" she snapped, harsher "How do you answer? Accept ain My compromise Or it is war And you will become its first casualty"

I looked at Susan She stared blankly, her ht in a trance of some kind I could probably snap her out of it, provided a bunch of vampires didn&039;t tear me lia At the hissing va on the polished floor

I hurt all over, and I felt so very damned tired

"I love her," I said I didn&039;t say it very loud

"What?" Bianca stared at me "What did you say?"

"I said, I love her"