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Rue leapt off the post and wove through themales A vampire lurched in her direction However, when she drew her lip back frorowled at hi, who crashed into his side with a howl

Fur was flying, flesh was scoured, slow old black blood leaked everywhere

They were all enjoying thee where Quesnel and Percy still grappled Percy was yelling sohts and discovery notification and respect for intellectual property Quesnel was yelling back about the public’s right to infor considerations

Rue wormed her way between thes was about as tall as Rue the human, which is to say still shorter than both Percy and Quesnel

She did the only thing she could think of to distract the wet slap He smelled of lime and he tasted like meaty smoke She rotated, put her paws on Percy’s shoulder, and did the salasses off He tasted of leather and dust

Percy, hoht errant with his faithful olf companion," knew exactly what she looked like in wolf forue "Get off!"

Quesnel, thank heavens, had the grace to look ashaister the chaos around the on?"

That hting your pack, Rue? Is that Lady Maccon? Is that a parasol?"

He began shouting the na the that their precious charge was no longer grappling for his life, the vaht, Percy had been grappling for his academic reputation not his life She sneezed out the wolf equivalent of a laugh

The pack slowed as well After all, it was no fun to hunt soht back They weren’t cats

The drones stopped with relief on their faces and began to tend to each other’s wounds, knowing the blood ht the scent and demanded second breakfast

Percy marched up to one of the vampires and put his hands to his hips "Gahiji, what in heaven’s na?"

"That lared at Quesnel

"Mr Lefoux," said Percy, "happens to be a colleague both aboard entlerave import and no little delicacy I should thank you, and s out of it!"

Uh-oh, thought Rue, Percy has resorted to swearing

Quesnel was annoyed at being defended by his rival but seemed to see the sense in it After all, the va to listen to hireat white ith cold eyes, was sitting unco at hi twitched his fluffy white tail at her but did not move Paw had ordered him to track Quesnel Only Paw could call him off

Rue rolled her eyes Bloody olves