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"Of course What would you have her call me otherwise? Hey you?" The corners of her lips turned ever so slightly upward, and I , but no way, nohoas I taking the lead So notcontrite in a way that I’d only ever seen him look around Iris, Smoky cleared his throat "Honorable Lady Vishana, it would please o, priestess of the Moon Mother Camille, this is my mother, Lady Vishana Yourwhat she’d do Would she strike out, as Hyto had? Or would she ignore me? But the next moment, she reached out and took azed doith those steel eyes and then a smile spread across her face Oh, she was still aloof, but the senuine, and as she spoke, a note of sincerity filled her words

"Ca to e So you are the one who has stolen my son’s heart? Welcome to the family" And then she leaned down and kissed me briefly on the cheek

Chapter 21

As she stood back, still holding aze fell on er the collar I sed What the hell was she going to think ofHyto’s sy weak?

But as she searchedregal yet just about her energy, and I leaned closer, silently pleading for her to understand that I had not chosen to allow Hyto into my life

"I am so sorry that my ex-husband found his way to you" She read hly, and when she’d finished, she turned toward Smoky and her words came out with a catch "I should have denied him sooner This would not have happened if I’d paid attention when I first began to notice his behavior Shortly after you and your siblings were born, I should have cast hiht perhaps he was still young and rash"

Se Hyto is lost"

Finding e, I spoke up "He’s furious at Smoky and atto use me as bait to lure Smoky in, but with a little help, I escaped"

Vishana listened, then crossed her ar spirit We have to be cautious He’s wily and will not give any quarter" With a glance past us, she pointed to Iris, Shade, and Delilah "Introductions, my Iampaatar You are not bred from coarse society You will be civil"

As I tried to stifle a laugh, Vishana flashed rin "I’m sure you’ve found my son a chore to tame I understand you have two other husbands, as well"

Startled that Siven her that much information, I nodded "Yesactually I hope you don’t--"

With a harried gesture, she cut on Reaches, we, on occasion, allow plurala lover is common But I a" Then, after a beat, she added, "For hier than life Remember that, Camille You are blessed But so is he--for you to co expedition tells me you have a brave heart, and the conviction to stand by your husband is honorable"

I had a feeling that honorable was an i to my sister, I started to introduce the rest of them, but my mother-in-law held up her hand

"Ah, ah, ah! I asked my son to do the honors It is his task, and I will not have hi into a boor Mind you, keep control of your household, Caon, there is no reason for hshod over everyone Do you understand? The household rules are set by the wife and to be obeyed"

Sh I’d just been given permission to scoldabout me, please allow me to introduce o And this is Lady Iris Kuusi, priestess of Undutar And this is Delilah’s lover, Shade He is--"

"Half shadow dragon I can sense it, my son Andhalf Stradolan" Smoky’s mother looked Shade up one side and down the other "Fascinating I’ve never on before Your kind seldo inherently rude about the coiven us a valuable tidbit of information there

Shade bowed "Honorable Lady Vishana, I am pleased to make your acquaintance Please accept my services"

"You are soft spoken and well mannered Teachalone for so ood lanced at the top of the slope "Well, then Shall we find Hyto and take him down? I don’t have all day to dawdle, and I’ this battle"

I stared at her "You’re co with us, then?" I hadn’t been entirely sure what she was here for I’d been hoping, but hope doesn’t always spring true

"Oh, yes, ht, and I won’t leave while Hyto still stands Come then Iampaatar, lead us to the battle Cahter-in-law the day IIris in the front, we headed up the mountain to the crest of the slope, as the snow fell silently around us

Delilah fell in besideup the rear She leaned close "I never thought about the fact that on also" She seeh, you may never meet her"

"What should atch out for with Hyto?" Delilah fingered Lysanthra--her silver dagger No use using an old iron knife on Hyto Dragons weren’t vulnerable to the metal I didn’t want to tell her that no erous, but that was simply the fact

"Whatever you do, keep away from his hair Which means distance attacks, which you don’t have" I bit ht Rozurial He had all sorts of tricks up his sleeve

But then Delilah surprised me She pulled a handful of little round red balls out of her pocket I recognized theive you those?" I loved Roz’s gear--coveted soave me any of his baubles, probably because of o boo, before we left Nobody wanted to be left behind" She bit her lip, the tip of one of her fangs piercing the skin A drop of blood oozed out and she licked it up

"I know But we can’t focus on our job if we’re trying to protect the others" And there it was: If everybody ca two unprotected io, and Estelle--but we’d be so busy trying to make sure that Hyto didn’t hurt them, we’d all end up dead