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"Oh, really, no I dinna want to collect another one I wanted to find out the particulars of the condition We need to knohere it came from If there are more, they need to be controlled"

"And you couldn’t have sie the situation yourself?"

"BUR’s jurisdiction is homeland only This is athat olves needed tae see tae it So I sent Dubh"

"And?" Lord Maccon’s expression was dark

"An’ he was supposed tae report in teeks ago He never ain last week Still naught Then, two days past, this cah I dinna think it’s fro"

She threw a piece of paper down on the tea table before them It was plain parchment of the kind employed by trans aetherograle symbol was drawn upon it: a circle atop a cross, split in two

Alexia had seen that syerous littlefrom a chain around the neck of a Templar "Wonderful The broken ankh"

Lord Maccon bent to exa in her sleep Alexia tucked the blanket, one of Lord Akeldahter

Lord Maccon and Lady Kingair both looked at Alexia Lord Maccon, it ought to be noted, earing another pink brocade sharapped securely about his waist It looked like a skirt fro Scottish, was accusto skirts And he did have very nice knees Scotsmen, she had occasion to observe, often did have nice knees Perhaps that hy they insisted upon kilts

"Oh, don’t tell me I never told you about it?"

"You never told " Lord Akelda the symbol he saw before him

"Well, the ankh translates to ‘eternal life’ or so Champollion says And there we see eternal life destroyed What do you think it ht mean? Preternaturals, of course Me"

Lord Akeldama pursed his lips "Perhaps But solyphic broken to keep the sy off the stone and into reality When inscribed for that reason, the lyphic does not alter"

"But ould nae want ireat-great-great-grandfather for years to be made into a olf

"Not everyone wants to live forever," Alexia said "Take Madaht theypt? What do you want me to do about it? Isn’t this a air cocked her head "You are fa tae involve official channels"

Lord Maccon exchanged looks with his wife Alexia glanced significantly at Lord Akeldailded cuckoo clock that do on," he said

"I shall be fine without you,unpleasant ever happens on the train," assured his wife

Lord Maccon did not look reassured Nevertheless, it was clear he wasolves than summons froair "We had better adjourn to BUR headquarters We will need the assets only the Bureau can provide"

Lady Kingair nodded

"Randolph"

"I’m with you, my lord But I prefer to travel a little more formally"

"Very well We shall meet you there" At which Lord Maccon swooped down upon his wife, one hand fir the shawl secure about his midriff "Please, be cautious, my love, train or no train"

Alexia leaned into his e eyes about them--everyone there was family, after all--she touched his chin with one hand and arched up into his kiss Prudence, accustomed to such activity, did not move in her mother’s lap Conall disappeared out into the hallway to ree fory wolf head peeked back into the rooair excused herself to follow him

"My hallway," remarked Lord Akeldama, "has never before seen such lively action And that, !"

Lady Maccon left her daughter asleep in her adopted father’s drawing roo dress of ecru over a bronze skirt with brown velvet detailing It was perhaps too unadorned for a vampire queen, but it was eminently appropriate for public transport She commandeered one of the drones to assist her with the buttons, seeing as Biffy--her lady’s valet, as she liked to call him--was busy with his hats She tucked Ethel into a brown velvet reticule, checking to ensure the gun was fully loaded with sundowner bullets Alexia detested the very idea that she un Like any well-bred woman, she vastly preferred estures This was partly because herthe side of the barn--if it was a very large barn and she was very close to it--and partly because guns seemed so decidedly final Still, even if all she intended to do was threaten, she ht as well be able to fulfill that threat adequately Alexia abhorred hypocrisy, especially when munitions were involved

She took a moment to lament her lack of parasol Every time she left the house, she felt keenly the absence of her heretofore ubiquitous accessory She had asked Conall for a replaceifts-afoot ht have to take matters into her own hands soon But with Madame Lefoux indentured to the Woolsey Hive, Alexia was at a loss as to how to locate an inventor capable of producing work of such complexity and delicacy, not to mention fashion

Floote materialized with two first-class tickets fro Express