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Sabelle askedthe door behind them The finality of the click resounded in the cavernous space between him and Bram Ice stared at his ne would be construed as a way ofhis way onto the Council or into Sabelle’s life Both attempts would be spurned

Bloody hell, he hadn’t tried to use his diplomatic skills in nearly two hundred years Once, he’d been proe and hopelessness bury the promise Now, as then, one man stood between him and salvation

Shit

"This is bloody aard," Ice aze zipped in his direction "Indeed I don’t like it"

"Me, either Your sister is very clever"

He laughed "Truer words are rarely spoken"

Silence ensued again, and Ice’s thoughts raced Once conversation between theibes and pranks For years, his grief for Gailene had overshadowed nearly all feeling But once he’d joined the Doo had slaain with a different sort of sorrow He believed in their cause, of course, but ie, Ice would always be the outsider

Sabelle, bless her, had given hie it, perhaps He couldn’t stop to consider nohat thatso my sister," Bram said suddenly

Those were the last words Ice ever expected to hear and they nearly knocked hie and pleasure Whatever you think of enuine She is ed "The issue now is MacKinnett’s open Council post"

Which told Ice that Bra to his Call Politics and necessity could blur lines of anger and en he’d ever sought two hundred years ago, yet watch love slip through his grasp?

Fists clenched at his sides, Ice restrained the urge to grab Bram, shake soainst Bra in his heels, and with this spell altering his temper and mood, Bram was more unpredictable than usual

Someday, Sabelle Someday … I will find a way to you

He’d waited two hundred years to allow Gailene to rest peacefully for good If he must, he’d wait another two hundred to have Sabelle in his arreed "I want to be clear: I did not put this notion in Sabelle’s head"

"No" Bram shook his head "This was all Sabelle I know the little minx" He rubbed the back of his neck "I should probably thank her It’s a brilliant plan"

Bram’s tone said that admission was a damn hard one to make, and Ice repressed a smile "I find she’s quite full of those"

"Always has been From the time I met her, she was full of mischief Had a way about her Her siren beauty, I suppose"

Personally, Ice thought it was her inner light and goodness "I’m certain that didn’t hurt"

With methodical steps, Braree to no in place"

Of course Braer He shouldn’t have expected the last few moments to erase two centuries of distrust "Spit it out"

"I need your voting loyalty Not on every issue I’ickind’s safety--"

"Yes" That agreement was easy, since they shared the same views "Provided the votes are not used to continually suppress the Deprived Changelae’ll not only do what’s right, but take away Mathias’s ‘cause’ and leave him without a base of power The Deprived will have a new leader in you, one who doesn’t feed off violence and death"

Crowning him a new leader seemed far-fetched to Ice, but if Bra he couldn’t? Either way … "Then we’re agreed"

"Yes" Then the other wizard’s blue stare zipped up to him

Ice sed Now the hard part of the conversation Please, don’t ask ive up Sabelle

"My sister … The issue of your Call must be addressed"

"That’s between your sister and rooht one, as we’ve both established Allow her to know her own mind and heart"

Bram shook his head "If she mates with you, I must still disclaim her Sabelle can be er voting bloc on the Council I will continue negotiations with Kelood candidate--"

"You son of a bitch! You’re negotiating your sister’s happiness for your political advantage, and your rejection will crush her When you pulled her fro to sell Sabelle, you didn’t do it out of the goodness of your heart or concern for ould becoht her from her mother so that you could use the fact Merlin’s blood runs in your veins to greater political advantage You’ve waited and bided your ti to you"