Page 11 (1/2)

Lord de Bricasse raised his brows "Well, I assumed you would say that even before his histrionics Really, Doug…" he said, slipping fro puffed his chest out even further "This is within the rules I’ve checked"

He’d obviously planned it this way and now appeared very pleased with himself I turned to William "You don’t need to do this It’sobviously has a probleave ht as your chae has been issued and I accepted it These are the rules we abide by and they are very clear There is nothing left to say"

I al to stake ht not win?

Triu bowed dralove Then, without so much as a thank you, he turned, saluted the rest of the occupants of the tent and lared at his back the entire way out What the hell had I ever seen in him?

William still stood before the elders, and Lord de Bricasse was asking him if he had any further business with the council I stepped up to put a stop to this

William held out his arm to hold me back "No, we’ll settle this the old-fashioned way After all, it’s e’re about"

"But…" None of them had any idea what that "bauble" meant to me I wasn’t about to leaveuntil ere outside the tent "Wil…"

He stopped and turned to me, eyes fixed on my shoulder "Yes?"

"I think it was very nice of you to offer to defend e to question his ability to do this

"The Beltane Festival is only twothat happened today won’t happen then?"

He continued to stare at my shoulder At his sides, his fists opened and closed several ti thewhat he’d look like in a fitted pair of jeans Probably hot as hell…

I shooket better"

I shiftedthat htly "But will that help? What if you still stress out and violate the rules? Then he wins on a technicality--again"

He frowned "It wasn’t stress It was…"

"What?"

"More like…dread"

Dread…I knew about that Being born in the middle of one of the bloodiest wars in recent history would do that to a kid Then being torn away from half your family and shipped to the other side of the world to be "safe?" Yeah, I knew all about dread

I took a deep breath and relaxedthem fall to my sides "If you want, I could help with that Like…we could "

His brows rose "You can help?"