Page 15 (1/2)

He sly "You don’t trust me yet to see your secrets I hope in tiht

"If I were to agree to join your"--I’d alroup What would it entail exactly?"

He started walking again, through another door and back out into the courtyard As alked, he seeiven it thought before Riiight

Even though I didn’t trust him any more than I would a snake, as alked my body felt drawn to his I literally had to force myself to keep a respectable distance between us He stood about a head taller than me and the broadness of his shoulders was emphasized by the cut of his suit And that face Damn A face like that would orgeous in a hot villain kind of way But it was more than that He had some aura about him that was pure seduction I’d do best to reain by the time he spoke "Your initiation would happen fairly quickly Just a forive specifics "I don’t ree to join you, I’ to need particulars What is the project and exactly what does the initiation entail?"

He ran a hand across the surface of the water, al it He lifted the hand and water dripped froer, he reached up and rubbed the liquid on his full bottoot wet

He shrugged "I’ree to join me However, I’m sure you’ll have no proble water between his palms and watched me "I’m afraid the details will have to wait until the initiation rites have been perforo on, do you?"

He snment is such that only those within my circle of trust can know the details"

He was a slippery one, I’d give hi you," I said "What then?"

He shrugged "Then you go your way and I go mine However, I’m sure that won’t happen"

My eyes narrowed "And why is that?"

"Because soon enough you’re going to realize that the world is about to change for all the dark races Those not aligned with a poill find themselves trampled"

"I can take care of myself," I said

"I have no doubt on that account," he said "However, I seriously doubt you want both the Dominae and me as your enemies"

Ah There it was A subtle threat, but a threat nonetheless

He straightened froive me There’s no need for that kind of talk now" His s in the air between us "Where are you staying while you’re in town?"

The change in subject caught uard "In a hotel with my de--cat"

"If it wouldn’t be too forward, I’d like to offer another suggestion"

I tiltedwith this

"The Temple owns a few apartment complexes around town It just so happens a feation has an extra roo my head when he held a hand up to stall htest followers I think you tould get along splendidly," he said "I’m sure she would be happy to answer any of your questions about the good e do here"

"That’s nice of you to offer," I lied "However, I’d feel unco in with someone I’ve never ain Frank was standing sentinel in the hall

"Oh, but I insist," Clovis said "Unless you’d like to move into our dor in with this Vinca chick I quickly weighed ht make him suspicious But I seriously didn’t like the idea that so with one of Clovis’ people e If I could cozy up to this Vinca and puht work in my favor I looked at Clovis, who suess, in the end, I really didn’t have a choice

"Okay, I’ll do it I only ask that you give me a little time to consider your offer"

"Done," he said "I’ll have Frank call Vinca and tell her to expect you tonight"

12