Page 31 (1/2)

"Sure I’d welcoer be counted on to protect you, not without h our ever-expanding household, I slid my cape around my shoulders, then wandered over to the door and opened it, staring out into the darkening evening Snow drifted down, softly kissing the ground, and the chill of the night embraced me like a silken shroud I put on a pair of slippers and stepped outside, turning my face up to the flakes that whispered past

So ed for the comfort of our own home For the faie to be playing in her playpen near the stove, while Iris searched through catalogs for goodies she azines and watched trash TV

As I leaned against the doorja into the darkness, I tried to wrap my mind around where ere Chase was in trouble, and I had the feeling it was tied to his time in the spider freak’s house But there wasn’t a da on Hyto--and he’d find us, not the other way around, wascollar Would it interfere withof which, if I didn’t take care of this o an initiation at this ti Talamh Lonrach Oll?

At that moment, Vanzir and Shade appeared and andered out away from the barrow so Vanzir could put in his call

"Carter left e and I didn’t have a chance to return his call till now" He punched in the nuround Ihion relatives?" I asked Shade "Would they object to your relationship with ood to know up front if we’re only dealing with one set of insane in-laws" I didn’tdaotry My own father refused to tolerate Trillian because he was Svartan Smoky’s father hated me to the point of madness The Rainier Puma Pride disapproved of Nerissa’s relationship with Menolly We couldn’t seeer, then vanished back inside Within seconds he’d returned, carrying a chair "Sit down I know you’re still pretty banged up"

Grateful, I sat "Thanks You’re a sweetheart"

He grinned "I try to be" Then, kneeling down by the side of y scars leaned on one of the aron My father was Stradolan Not a common mix but one of the few you’ll see coons live in the shadows; they run si ic Mytheir work, and I aon Reaches"

"No, shadow dragons do not put as ons do They exist in a slightly different plane than the rest of the Dragonkin And Stradolanhow to explain--the Stradolan are solitary beings We know and recognize our farown and away from our parents SoDelilah or her sisters They would be aloof, but noto wrapin love with a dragon but then just stopped It was no different than S in love with me, or Morio and rinned then, and his teeth flashed brilliant white "I was taken fro and fostered in the Autu around the Death Maidens a lot I learned very quickly how to interact Especially when they used to play tricks on ave a little shrug "Not so much After all, Haseofon is a temple of the dead The Autu an Elemental Lord But look, Vanzir appears to have finished his phone call" He nodded at Vanzir, as headed our way

"I talked to Carter He’s worried He’s heard ruhly opened but usable--set up to the Subterranean Realms It needs to be shut down, but first we have to find it Soht it was up in Shoreline, but there are also rumors that it’s over in the Lynn-wood area Nobody really knows for sure"

I stared up at hi it, do you know?"

"Yeah, Carter says that so to want to know about" He glanced around to h to whisper without being overheard "Telazhar"

My sto Wars down in the deserts of Otherworld--Telazhar had long ago been sent to the Subterranean Real Stacia Bonecrusher

"Is Carter sure? Telazhar, loosed on the general populace" Suddenly Hyto didn’t see eyes "We’re in trouble Big trouble"

He nodded "Yeah I wish to hell I hadmy head The Moon Mother had done as she saw fit, but I couldn’t figure out how taking away Vanzir’s powers--ones he was already conflicted about--had done anything to help us

"I don’t blame you," he said "Trustto take back what happened But I can’t I’ll do whatever I can to help, though I’ on your side, powers or not, soul binder or not I just hope Smoky decides to let ain I pro aard "Vanzirif the circu is that although I would undo what happened if possible, it’s not because of you You were incredible Never doubt yourself Never worry about"

He laughed, a little too harshly, but he was nodding "Sa husband I said that"

I nodded, then turned to Shade, who had et back inside to tell the others the news" Telazhar was a necromancer so powerful he’d make Morio and me look like dabblers

As we headed inside, ere just in time to see Smoky appear He held up his hand as Delilah started in with a flurry of questions about how Chase was doing

"I stayed for a few moments to find out what I could But Sharah has no clue She said it will bebefore she’s able to finish a battery of tests Meanwhile, he’s stabilized and not in i it over a knob on the coatrack near the door Turning to me, he held out his arm and I slid beneath the shelter of his e, Delilah--she suggested you call her around nine AM" He paused, then looked over at dinner "I’"

I realized that I’d skippedup another plate Iris volunteered to heat it up, but I shook my head

"This is fine But I have some news for everybody" I looked around "Where’s Hanna? I haven’t seen her since earlier"