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"Celia" Bruno’s voice was gently chiding I looked up and found I couldn’t look away His gaze was intense, the fla "I love you I want you And even if we don’t work out, I’ht this house for a reason This isintensity "I like teaching I’ood at it Once I finishto apply for a university staff position I’ll still make artifacts, but I’ll choose what to create and who to make them for"

Wow Part of me was shocked … and another part wasn’t No, he hadn’t discussed any of this with ed We aren’t planning a future together Not yet;both Bruno and John Creede for a while and I would have had no right to bitch if he dated Angelina Bonetti or anybody else--even though I had to ad at Bayvieould be a really good fit for hiood at it And if we did s out and beco distance

"I’ood idea"

"But?"

I smiled at him a little sadly "I feel like too ed"

A quick shrug "You’re tough, Celia And smart You’ll catch up"

I didn’t answer I wasn’t sure what to say

He smiled and took et some sleep"

9

"I’m sorry," I said as I extendedthe conference room Helen Baker is a member of the Serenity Secret Service She is tall, with chiseled features and a seriously buff body underneath the conservative black suit she earing with a dove gray blouse The last time I’d seen her she’d had a buzz cut Apparently she’d decided to let her blond hair grow out a bit; though it was still short, it was not as short, and it had been styled to look ht

Baker rose froiven ize, Princess You’re not late, I arrived early" That was obvious She’d had ti up her computer and a projection screen And I spotted several old-fashioned display boards leaning against the wall

I realized Baker was still standing Apparently she wouldn’t sit until I did She was probably following royal etiquette That was sono, but it had been awhile I’d forgottenbecause…"--I paused for a second, searching for the right phrasing--"bringingyour jobs And that is not true" I’d worked with Baker and other members of the Siren Secret Service before They were efficient, well trained, and scary good "I can’t iine why I’d be needed" I pulled out the chair directly across froood view of the projection screen

Baker smiled and took her seat "But you are needed" She reached into the padded laptop case on the table and withdrew a manila folder "I’m a clairvoyant I’ve seen it ainst us have used powerful black ics You, Princess, havethe deht and executed at least ten vampires, even one übervamp There has never been a vampire on Serenity, so none of our people has that experience We’ve trained for it, but training and experience are two very different things Don’t presuer to learn your techniques"

It eird, hearingsound so matter-of-fact, but every one of those incidents had been terrifying, dangerous, and damn near fatal to me and lots of other people

"So there’s no friction?"

Her expression grew rueful "Not from me But I can’t say that everyone on staff is thrilled Especially since it’s been made clear that the queen wants us to protect you as well"

"No"

She raised her eyebrows but didn’t say anything