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"Well, you’ve got your audience," Clovis said He leaned back in his chair "Speak your piece"

Adae, but he recovered quickly "I was sent by the Hekate Council to investigate the disappearance of severalthis matter" He paused for Clovis’s reaction, but received none except a slight nod

"Sabina ad held, but wouldn’t give etic "So I followed her here, since she’s obviously working for you"

"And?" Clovis asked, sounding bored I was so tense,into the armrests of the chair Part of me wanted to punch Adam for his stunt, and the other was scared for him

"And I want in," Adae when I have Sabina sitting right here?" Clovis said, nodding to me I started to protest but his look shut me up

"With all due respect to Sabina, she is untrained in ic While I’m convinced she has latent skills, she is unable to use the this information "And how do I know I can trust you?"

"A simple phone call to the Hekate Council will verify my identity"

"Therein lies the rub," Clovis said "I’m afraid the Hekate Council must remain in the dark about certain aspects of this situation"

Adam’s jaw tensed "If you don’t letinfor of their followers"

"However do you think you’ll pull that off? After all, what’s to stop ht now?"

"I called my contacts at Council headquarters in New York before I came here If they do not hear from me in half an hour, they will send a force to retaliate for ," Frank said

Clovis waved a hand at his assistant "I see," he said "I have to admit I admire your bravado However, I cannot let you in on this unless I have assurances you will not reveal information to the Council"

"If it will save lives, I pro you tell me to the Council--until after the situation has been resolved"

Clovis looked at me "What do you say? Should I spare his life and trust him? Or should I have Frank take hi me to condemn him I was still pissed that his stunt screwed up ree with his tactics, his obvious eagerness to help his people was touching I couldn’t really think of anyone I’d risk my life to save Perhaps I wanted to understand hoas capable of such loyalty Perhaps I felt bad for him Or perhaps I knew I could trust hi the truth about hi Adam hold his breath and suffer while I made up my mind, I turned to Clovis

"I trust him"

21

Vinca’s eyes widened when she saw Adah the door "Well, hello there" She ca in her hips "I’m Vinca"

Adam looked amused by her blatant interest "Ada all about," she said Adam looked to me for confir about hi a slumber party I frowned at both of them and went to my room

Vinca’s flirtatious voice followedon ot to talk"

He opened one eye and regarded me with a look I can only describe as disdain "You’re disturbing my beauty sleep," he said over a yawn

"You’d have to be Rip van Winkle for that shit to work,"Is Clovis dead?"

"There’s been a change of plans" I quickly filled hio to the Hekate Council?" He was fully awake now If he’d been in demon form, he’d probably have stroked his chin Instead, he rhythmically swished his hairless tail like a uhl’s ears perked up just as I heard footsteps in the hallway I turned in time to see Adam raise his hand to knock on the doorja at Giguhl

"Yeah, so? Lots of people talk to their pets" I walked toward hiuhl could spill the beans about his true identity I wasn’t ready to go there

Giguhl stood and stretched "So you’re the one who sue as he looked to me for explanation I threw my hand in the air "We can talk about that later We have sos to discuss, you and I"

"Looks like that’soff the bed As he passed Ada to need it"

Adauhl’s bare rear end sashay out the door and down the hall "I sue hie the subject," I said "You want to tellwith that stunt?"