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I stared at hih Camille rolled her eyes, and Menolly snorted Sest Shade take him down to the Wayfarer Menolly, I can take you"

Shade swiveled around on his heel "Me? Why rin on his face "You are from the Netherworld Ghouls are undead Itback his trench and sliding his hands into his pockets His hair whipped around, al

"I see" Shade’s lip quivered, and the two dragons locked gazes Shade was older than Son, and that made a difference After a hed "Fine, then I will take the ghoul"

"Whoever takes the ghoul, fine, but if I’et back before sunrise" Menolly walked over to Smoky He opened his trench and she slid her arm around his waist

Shade rolled his eyes He strode over to Martin and, without ceremony, swept Martin under one arm Martin stiffened, stared at him, sniffed, and then went liht shut down and sit still for hours until ordered to do soht in their eyes But Martin--he looked like he’d fainted

With a laugh at our incredulity, Shade said, "I’m part Stradolan I have many hidden talents" And then, without another word, he vanished Srabbed Caet home, wife This weather is abominable"

On the walk up the road to our driveway, Ca a few yards ahead of us She slid her arh his and laid her head on his shoulder

"Thank you," I heard her say

"For what?" Shamas inclined his head, and his arm snaked around her waist But his hand stayed well off her butt, which was a good thing by the look on Morio’s face as he watched

"For helping us For putting out the fire on Wilbur’s house Wilbur is a pain in the ass, but he’s helped us in the past I don’t believe he betrayed us At least…I hope he didn’t" She hung her head

Shalance over his shoulder at Morio andback

"It’s okay I understand why you were angry at ive me and accept that I only want to help you And…Delilah and Menolly, too I’ve got a lot to learn, still, but I’" He touched her hand, then turned around and walked up to me

I stared at him, still not particularly iize I want to say I’ you better ere kids For not…treating you properly I’ll try to do better" He held out his hand

I looked into his eyes and, for the first ti there--for someone other than Camille I worried s pierced the flesh

"Okay I believe you You were a real snot-nosed ass, but…I really think you have changed I accept your apology" As I took his hand, I pulled hi As I wrapped h so that Camille couldn’t hear, "Thanks"

"Thanks for what? I’o" He tilted his head back, grinning up at me He looked soabout Ca Father’s support has hurt her in so ate so for her But, Shas for her And trust me, it’s not safe Not with her husbands"

I could see the protest in his eyes and shook my head "Don’t even say it I knohat I see Trust ering hopes you may have, and you’ll be a lot happier Consider it a friendly warning, unlike the thrashing you’d get froave Vanzir because of the circumstances You don’t have any such excuse"

Before he could say another word, I let go and caught up to Ca for Shamas to join us, we ran the rest of the way back up the driveway to hoot home, Sharah had called, and Srinned Soone over ith hi in the kitchen "Sharah says they arrived at the hospital without incident Wilbur’s hanging on He’s in serious condition, but she says he should h he still hasn’t woken up He has a skull fracture--and it’s nasty but it will heal His leg may still have to be amputated, they aren’t sure And his arm was broken in three places He also suffered three cracked ribs, a broken toe, and multiple burns that look like they were caused by electrical shocks Probably little bolts of lightning"

The look on her face was daunting Menolly had been through torture--far one--and she hated it when friends and faot under her skin, I had the feeling she had grown fond of the big galoot

"You don’t think he betrayed us, either, do you?" I challenged her to answer "Ca with the hem of her shirt "Honestly? No I don’t There has to be sogest you go over to what’s left of Wilbur’s house and go through it, searching for anything you can find that art came back to destroy his house--there has to be a reason I just hope that he doesn’t finish the job before we can get to it"

"You want o over now?" I didn’t want to--I was exhausted and sht it was best, I’d dragruins

She frowned, thinking "No Wait till ht, when you can see whatin the shadows By then, maybe Wilbur will have woken up and have sonaled the need for her to return to her lair She yawned, then disappeared behind the bookcase I stretched and motioned to the others

"Time for sleep We have a full day We have to find out where Van and Jaycee are We have to figure out who the man with the spirit seal is and what relationship he has to the others We have to--" I stopped as Shade appeared in the doorway

"Come on, woman We have to sleep Let ood night to Camille and her men They trailed after us up the stairs as the first rays of dawn broke through the living roo the room with a faint ray of hope