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A knock sounded on the door I didn’t move

"We are late" Nathanial’s voice held no inflection No eainst the hard tiled wall I can’t do this

"I’ he would hear

No response cahed "Go without me They don’t need me"

A soft buainst the door "Kita"

Justelse

I squeezed o to him I wanted my name to never sound so lost on his lips But I couldn’t trust it I couldn’t trustI felt around hi Nothing since I became a vampire made sense My instincts were off, and now my very emotions were circumspect A tear hit the tile besideanother trail down my cheek in the same path

"I’ll meet you downstairs" My voice sounded broken, like it was trying to squeeze out of a too-tight throat Wiping hter I drew in a deep breath Held it "Just give me a couple minutes alone Please I’ll meet you downstairs I proainst the wall, hugging my knees

Several heartbeats passed Then the French doors closed, and I released the breath I’d been holding It sagged out, shaky, and I did it again And again

Oncesteadied, I pushed off the floor and exa around on the floor, only a couple strands escaping the trap of pins The dressed had not done as well Creases and wrinkles marred the skirt, and the bodice isted, uncoe the wrinkles as well as I could, but there wasn’tin defeat, I swept out of the bathroo back into bed Starting the night over

I couldn’t

I was expected downstairs I had to face the Collector, and Tatius’s emissaries, and I had to face Nathanial

Chapter Twenty-Four

"Why aren’t you in the parlor already?" a chied down the stairs

I looked up Elizabeth stood just inside theon ood answer, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to tell her what had happened upstairs

Joh that the Collector probably already knew more than I was comfortable with

Elizabeth tapped one dainty foot on the marble floor

"Well, hurry up You’ve been missed"

I doubt that But I did take the stairs a little faster She led me to the double doors of the parlor and pushed a small button Ronco opened the door a crack

"I found her dawdling in the stairwell," she said in a whisper loud enough every valared at her back as Ronco admitted us Elizabeth sauntered to the Traveler’s side, but I loitered in the doorway

Nathanial sat alone on a couch in the center of the rooht, her posture perfect without looking tense The Traveler and the twins sat on a couch beside her chair The third couch was taken by a sure with dark dreadlocks, who had her back to me

Anaya and Clive stood behind her Nuri? Nathanial had said an aht-hand van of his intentions Or a really bad sign

Nathanial inclined his head towardthe spot beside him on the couch

"Do sit down so we can continue," the Collector said, sparing h she didn’t wait forthe conversation about political obligations shebefore I entered

I sat on the furthest cushion I could and still be on the sa nored it Avin was calling ical need to nore I forcedas laid back and unconcerned as Tatius hiht have if he were in the room I frowned I’d met Nuri only a few times, but she never sprawled I studied her as casually as I could A solden cheek

Samantha?

I looked down, afraidon? I chanced a glance at Nathanial

Surely he’s noticed?

"The Puppet Master appreciates the hospitality you’ve shown his council member, Collector, but it is time for--"

Samantha-in-Nuri’s-face made it no further as the parlor doors burst open