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"The Congregation was established to enforce the covenant, to keep us safe frouns nonetheless "In exchange we all stay out of huion"
"Think what you want, but forced segregation--or the covenant if you want to be fancy about it--is often about concerns for racial purity" Chris propped his legs on the coffee table "Your covenant probably ca va humans more
‘comfortable’ was just a convenient excuse"
Fernando and Matthew exchanged glances
"I assumed that Diana’s ability to conceive was unique--that this was the goddess at work, not part of so-lived creatures with supernatural poould be terrifying"
"Not if you want to engineer a super race Then such a creature would be quite a genetic coup,"
Chris observed "Do we happen to know of any enetics?
Oh, wait We knoo of thes to God, Christopher" A dark vein pulsed in Matthew’s forehead "I have no interest in eugenics"
"I forgot You’re obsessed with species evolution--in other words, history and chemistry Those are Diana’s research interests What a coincidence" Chris’s eyes narrowed "Based on what I’ve overheard, I have two questions, Professor Clair out, or are witches and dae extinct, too? And which of these so-called species cares the enius With every insightful question he was delving deeper into the mysteries bound up in the Book of Life, the de Clermont family’s secrets, and the ht," Matthew said with suspicious speed "We can’t risk the Congregation discovering Diana’s pregnancy If you have no objection, o to Fernando’s house in Seville without delay Sarah can come with us, of course Then the coven’s reputation won’t be brought into disrepute"
"I said you can’t let the Wicked Witch find out about Diana, not that she should run away," Chris said, disgusted "Have you forgotten Benjaht this war on one front at a time, Christopher" Matthew’s expression must have matched his tone, because Chris io to Seville" I didn’t want to, but I didn’t want the Madison witches to suffer either
"No, it’s not okay," Sarah said, her voice rising "The Congregation wants answers? Well, I want answers, too You tell Sidonie von Borcke that I have been consorting with vampires since last October, ever since Satu Järvinen kidnapped and torturedIf that means I’ve violated the covenant, that’s too damn bad Without the de Clermonts, Diana would be dead--or worse"
"Those are serious allegations," Vivian said "You’re sure you want to make them?"
"Yes," Sarah said stubbornly "Knox has already been banished froation I want Satu’s ass kicked off, too"
"They’re looking for Knox’s replacement now," Vivian reported "It’s ru to come out of retirement to fill the chair"
"Janet Gowdie is ninety if she’s a day," Sarah said "She can’t possibly be up to the job"
"Knox insists that it be a witch known for her spell-casting abilities, as he was No one--not even Janet Gowdie--ever bested hi spells," Vivian said
"Yet," said Sarah succinctly
"There’s soo after the witches of the Congregation" Vivian hesitated "Sidonie has asked for a report on Diana She says it’s standard procedure to check on witches who haven’t developed theiration is interested in, then Sidonie’s request really has nothing to do with Sarah andwith vampires," I said
"Sidonie claims that she has a childhood assessment of Diana that indicated she was not expected to manifest any of the normal powers traditionally associated itches," Vivian went on, looking reed to his findings and signed off on it"
"Tell the Congregation that Rebecca and Stephen’s assessical abilities was absolutely correct, down to the last detail" Sarah’s eyes glittered with anger "My niece has no normal powers"
"Well done, Sarah," Matthew said, his admiration of her careful truth evident "That ansorthy of my brother Godfrey"
"Thank you, Matthew," Sarah said with a little nod
"Knox knows so--about ue He didn’t "I thought we’d discovered what : that I’m a weaver, like Dad But now that I know about Moics, I wonder if that doesn’t have to have so to do with Knox’s interest as well"
"He’s a dedicated practitioner of higher ics," Vivian ine that Knox would be willing to do alet his hands on theuitar filled the roos on my ged at," I said "She knew that change was co, and she was afraid of it, just like the wo But we can’t afford fear any, Diana?" Vivian asked
"The change ? It’s here," I said sie is on the way," Chris said "You’re not going to be able to keep the existence of creatures secret froenetic-counseling session, one ho outed"
"Nonsense," Matthew declared
"Gospel You have two choices Do you want to be in control of the situation when it happens, Matthew, or do you want to get smacked upside the head with it?" Chris waited "Based on our li you’d prefer option A"
Matthew ran his fingers over his scalp and glared at Chris
"I thought so" Chris tipped back his chair "So Given your predicament, what can Yale University do for you, Professor Clair research students and postgraduates to analyze creature DNA"
"It’s scary as hell, I know," Chris continued in a gentler tone "We’d all rather hide soh decisions But soht Fernando tells me you’re a pretty i
"I’ll stand with you, if that helps," Chris added, "provided you meet me halfway"
Mattheas not only an impressive warrior but an experienced one He knehen he was beaten