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My heart skipped a beat, and every vampire within a ten-foot radius turned to look at it Stewart, will henceforth be a warden within our council, with all rights, privileges and duties the title carries with it"

Brigit, who’d had to say quiet and still for the whole duration of the process, suddenly leaped to her feet with a girlish squeal and clapped her hands, pure delight shining in her eyes You would think the chairman had told her she’d won the lottery

"Thank you Thank you," she gushed "I won’t disappoint you, I promise"

The chairman smiled, obviously quite taken with her

Rebecca, as seated beside Hansel, cleared her throat and got to her feet "Warden, please sit down"

Brigit’s ass found her seat so fast the chair scooted back a few inches

"It did not escape the attention of the elders that this particular elevation carried with it a bit of animosity between members of the Tribunal While it is not our place to interfere with reed a stipulation should be placed on Miss Stewart’s advance the Tribunal"

Sig went froht in his throne "A stipulation, you say? This is quite out of the ordinary, Rebecca"

"Yes, Tribunal Leader Sig However, the elders have observed that a great nus have been out of the ordinary lately Wouldn’t you agree?"

Sig frowned "I aht process" It wasn’t quite an agreeaze and wondered if I looked half as worried as she did

"I think the Tribunal will like our suggestion, if you are willing to hear it"

"Speak," Juan Carlos barked

"There is thekept within council walls Alexandre Peyton has been imprisoned for one year under the auspices a proper punishment will be decided for him in due time" As Rebecca spoke, a knot of unease formed between iven the relationship between the prisoner and one aze drifted to me and remained, "…it would be best if we, the elders, propose a sentence"

"I don’t--"

Sig raised a hand and cut me off before I could voice my dissatisfaction with this decision

Rebecca continued "Since Tribunal Leader Secret brought us this nearden candidate, we believe the final decision over Peyton’s term of solitude should fall to her"

"Okay, sure," I said "Forever and ever and ever Longer if possible"

"Yes, very good," Rebecca replied with a smile that was too sinister fora lifeline lock be placed on his prison"

"A…what?"

Sig was frowning, but not at me "A lifeline lock hasn’t been used in decades, Rebecca"

"What is a lifeline lock?" I whispered, which wascapabilities of those in the roo with those locked away in solitude In centuries past so their criotten and often the prisons theed like this wasn’t as appalling as it sounded "The lifeline lock was established so so kept, and if that person were to die…the prisoner would go free But as long as the vaue remains in solitude"

"It is a practical solution," Juan Carlos added "But I don’t believe Secret has enough experience with the concept to be the one who decides"

"I just need to pick so as they’re alive, Peyton stays in lockdown?"

Rebecca nodded

"I think I’ure out that one, Juan Carlos"