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I wrapped s A soft scuff yanked my attention to the small patio table for two, and I jerked to a halt "Al?" I said, fear for being coated in , as he stood, clearly having been waiting for ht of the door At least I hope he’d been out of sight "What are you doing here?" I warily shuffled closer into trust that he wouldn’t come here, out of his way, to chokehe looked dashing, though very different He wasn’t trying to kill ht?

He looked up froe for you," he said, his proper British accent only a hint, and I nodded, ave him almost a forties look He’d trimmed his physique as ith a narroaist and shoulders not as thick It er, less --the hairstyle shifted it to professional? Professional what, though? I wondered as my eyes slid from the hat he placed on the table to his shiny shoes The delasses that he really didn’t need

"It’s a different look for you," I said, and he sniffed

"Not everything I do revolves around you," he said quickly, as if Ito ht you looked good before," I said, and he hesitated as if never having considered that Relanced back at the open door and inched closer "What are you doing here?" And how long have you been here? Did you look in the ? Did you see aze was on the door when I turned back around, and my eyes narrowed in mistrust "I want to ask you a few questions," he said "Is now a good time?"

It wasn’t, but I went back and shut the door "You put Ellasbeth to sleep, didn’t you"

He smiled, and I kneas the same old Al despite his new look "Was it you who destroyed the back end of your church?"

"No" What is his gaain

"Was itTrenton Aloysius Kala closer until only feet separated us

"Tell me about it in your oords"

Tell me about it in your oords? I stood before him, head cocked "Why?" The scent of burnt amber was almost nonexistent, and I wondered how he could lose it so fast when it always took , Al flicked so creatures," heabout the mystics

"I can’t hear them," I rushed to say "And I didn’t call the that to tell him they’d showed up when Corhtened, and I felt a pang at his disgust "Ah, it was one of the vampire camarillas," I said to distract hiot rid of Trent andtheir souls back from the ever-after"

"So it was Cor Al had seen Corhed and clasped his hands before him "No proof That should be your an"

Why is he even interested in this? "Look," I said, thinking this was a la me to death "They were va ot a confession"

"A forced confession ," he said, and I wondered if the de they wanted to use soat his sleeves before reone

"You’re very defensive," he said "I’"

Yes, but why? He waited silently, and I finally said, "There was a mix of vampires from a lot of caht Cormel said the attack was his effort to remind Trent and me of our place in life"

Goat-slitted eyes unfocused in thought, Al steepled his fingers "This was last night?"

Soht as I nodded, and then I said, "Yes," when it became obvious I needed to actually say it "I didn’t blow up e of it to pretend to be dead" I leaned one pal as the cold from the iron seeped into me "Why are you here?"

His lip curled, and I forced er justwhat happens to the surface de Ellasbeth’s reaction if I caht be worth the fallout "That’s why I’odforsaken hour You want to coood cup of coffee"

Al blinked, quickly regaining his aplo of his feet giving away his surprise "I thought we could do this out here"

"Sure," I said softly, then stiffened when Al spoke a word of Latin, gesturing with his usual flair It lacked a little soloith the pleasure of doing sohtened my hold on the ley lines as a sheet of black-tinted ever-after coalesced into a hunched shape right there on the patio

Crap on toast, it was a surface demon, and I reached out to circle it

Al was faster, and a second sheet of power snapped shut around the surface deer," he said, both feet on the floor as he scooted to the edge of the metal chair and peered at it, elbows on his knees and head tilted

Uneasy, I inched closer The surface deainst the wall even as smoke curled up from his fists Or maybe it was a her This one had hair snarled down to her waist, and a decidedly delicate cut to her jaw--even if spittle was dangling from her chin

"Who is that?" I whispered, and I stopped short, not having realized I hadhis protection

Al’s expression was closed "I’ve no idea Newt gave it toin the east The tops of the trees were already glowing, and it wouldn’t be long before we had our answer

"Look, the sun," Al said as if it wasn’t obvious "Let’s see hoell the elves have fked this up"