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I hesitated half a heartbeat as I parsed the quick words and held the bindings carefully Terotiated, and I had to be careful not to give too ave a slow nod "I normally summon on the full moon, yes"

Its tiny eyes darted around the chamber "Tessa Pazhel before call ain That hy I’d called this particular de to Kehlirik, this de wards in my aunt’s house

"I am Kara Gillian, the niece of Tessa Pazhel I have summoned you here to serve me under terms that will honor us both"

It bared sharp teeth at me and cocked its head It looked ferocious--and no doubt was--but I knew that the bared teeth were its own version of a s you have?"

I picked up the canister of Café Du Monde coffee frorasp on the bindings Nothing had been settled yet, and even a se to h blood already this year, thank you

It gave a loarble and hopped forward "Task you wish exchange for?"

I resisted the desire to squirhout the house and in the library downstairs"

It blinked at s for the first time It let out a low croon that was unone who rimaced "I, uh, summoned a reyza to remove the wards I needed access to the house and library, and Tessa Pazhel is … indisposed"

To htened on its back four legs and puffed out its chest "Yes yes! Take reyza to re "Yes yes, agree to terotten what a pain in the ass it was to listen to a faas Sentence structure wasn’t terribly ireed," I said, and handed over the offering The demon tucked it into one of the pouches at its belt, then waited for estured toward the doorway, but it was already hopping in that direction "I think theis to secure that portal in the library," I said as I followed it down the stairs

It let out a horrified squawk and spun to facerabbed at the railing as it glared at me "Portal not ward?" it shrieked

"Um, the reyza took down all the wards I don’t think he knew that the portal was there"

The de it for a sh I was fairly certain that it was not directed toward , know it Uncovered to use or tell other use Push through" It turned and bounded the rest of the way down the stairs and down the hall to the library before I could take a breath to ask it what the fuck it was talking about I scurried after it, a not-good feeling settling intobefore the portal, spines on its back flared out and tipped with red I stayed in the doorway I’d never seen a faas that angry and upset before

"What do you h? There were some creatures here earlier--"

It spun to face me "Creatures kind? What like?"

"They were ss and a stinger"

Zhergalet snorted "Hriss Pest Cas"

I pinched the bridge ofas if I was continually several steps behind the des?"

It fluttered its hands "Potency Excess sucks up Tired you become is all Pest to swat Worry little about hriss Worry h portal"

I licked h? How big? And pushed froh De like … a dog?"

It cocked its head "Dog what is?"

I held ht "Black, four legs, long face, mouth full of teeth, tail …" Okay, that could describe half the taxonomy of earth, but apparently the little demon understood my description It hissed and shook its head

"Bad bad Kzak Not coet a headache fro to understand it "Okay, it’s called a kzak And it was pushed through Why? Froe cause Hurt and kill One dangerous soerous very"

"Wait They’re sent … to a specific target? Like an assassin?"

It nodded, hopping up and down "Yes yes!"

A shiver of cold ran downhad been sent After me? Or after Ryan? "Kehlirik would definitely have known the portal was there?"

"Reyza knoould Valuable knowledge Take back status gain"

I scowled, feeling oddly betrayed even though I kneas stupid to feel that way Kehlirik had done precisely what I’d asked him to do--remove the wards In the process he’d discovered the portal, and when he returned to the demon world he’d either used that inforhest bidder Then the portal had been used to send a kzak after … so my knees to my chest, but that wasn’t a luxury I could afford at the moment It had to be after Ryan Had to be Kehlirik didn’t like Ryan, and maybe there were others who felt the same way Besides, who in the demon realm could possibly want to hurt me? Rhyzkahl? I couldn’t fathom any reason he would do so, especially since he’d stated often enough that he didn’t want me to risk myself

But what about so to wearave in and slid down the wall and hugged alet merely continued to hop in place "I do portal first Cannot seal one day in Take s to secure But make pushes harder can do"