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The moment he died, Prudence turned back into a norot Alexia filed that little fact away; apparently sohter’s powers besides her ood deal of cleanup to be done, a nuements to be made, and discussions to be had Not to mention several formal introductions and a few broken bones and bloody necks tovampires looked at one another and then, as a body, rushed to surround their new queen, chattering at her in Arabic and gesticulating excitedly

Ivy, confused--head bobbling back and forth between the about--finally raised her voice in a most un-Ivy-like way and ordered silence She looked to her husband--as standing, crying, clutching Primrose to his breast--and then turned to Lady Maccon for assistance

"Alexia, pleath ethplain whath ith going on?"

Lady Maccon did, to the best of her ability The pretty felish translated the explanation for the benefit of the vampires Soon it became clear to everyone that Ivy had both a husband and children, which causedthose seeking ht it, so she couldn’t possibly be blaed was changed, and like spilled blood, there was no point going on about it Mrs Tunstell was a vampire queen now and they had all better make the best of the husband and twins that cae

Ivy said she felt remarkably restless and wanted to know if she had to stay in Alexandria for the rest of her life

Alexia re about new queens having several months to resettle How else would vaood, in that case she wished to return to London iyptian vampires protested Alexandria was their home, had been for hundreds of years! Ivy would have none of it London was her ho to be in the place where one could get a decent hat! She batted her eyelashes and lisped out girlish pleas, her character clearly not so much metamorphosed as her soul Yet her tactic worked despite her lack of autocratic tendencies In re Those drones ished to ally with a new queen and relocate were to pack andThe vaings and then, sticking close to Ivy, escorted her, her husband, her daughter, and her acting troupe back to the hotel

Alexia was left in the hive house with Matakara’s dead body, Madahter was exhausted beyond her childish capacities and was sitting in a sobbing heap Her husband was still a wolf During Ivy’s ave Alexia a long look and then climbed up to examine the vampire queen’s body and chair with studied interest, pointedly leaving Alexia to work out her family affairs on her own

Alexia went over and scooped up Prudence, cuddling the sobbing baby close She si one foot

Finally, Lord Maccon shifted form

"Explain yourself," said his lady wife in a very decided tone of voice

"Floote foundhis ue zone," Lord Maccon explained

Alexia thought about her forrateful to hi to you, ard husband, it does seem to me that it was his men who caused all the fuss in the first place"

Lord Maccon said, "According to Floote, they didn’t knoho you were He has given them new instructions"

"I should hope so" Alexia paused, considering her next move "Do you think we’ll ever find him?"

Lord Maccon shook his head "Not if he doesn’t want to be found Floote has a whole network here, and familiarity with the terrain, and no olves to track him in the God-Breaker Zone"

"I suppose that saves us fro people It certainly reflects badly upon our domestic staff Still, I shall ood cup of tea" Alexia was sad to lose her dear old companion, but she also kneas for the best She should hate to have to put hiair

"Did Floote tell you it was all based on a deal my father made with Matakara?"

"He did"

Alexia asked her husband, "What are we to do about it?"

Lord Maccon caave hiave her yet for lying to hi none of any such silliness anyainst his nakedness, bracketing Prudence against his large form so that the baby was in close contact with both her parents

Prudence gave a littleover his resent arainst his daughter’s head

The earl cleared his throat, still holding Alexia tight against him The words ruiving soht to my retirement"

"Indeed, how very unusual of you From BUR, or from the pack?"

"Both I purchased property, in Cairo, shortly after we arrived"

Alexia tilted her head back and looked to her husband in confusion "Conall, what is this?"

"A strategic retreat, ht return here, together Take long walks, eat pastries, play, uh, backgarow old and die!"

"As will you" Conall began stroking her back in a soothing row old and die!"

"Noe can do it together"

"My love, that’s a very chivalric thought, but there is no need to be nonsensical inhis wife and leaned a little away from her so he could look down into her upturned face His tawny eyes were serious "My dear, I a old Older than you think I will not allow myself to become one of those Alphas Two Betas have already betrayedsome measure of control In another decade or so, it will be tiracefully Can you think of a better way than relocating here?"

Alexia, practical to the last, actually considered this "Well, no But, dear, are you quite certain?"

"You like it here, don’t you, my love?"

Alexia tilted her head "Well, it’s warm, and the food is tasty"

"That’s settled, then"

Lady Maccon was not one to give in so easily as that "We will have to bring a great deal of tea with us e relocate" She was quite firgested her husband "Soe"

"Trade! Really, I don’t know…" Alexia trailed off thoughtfully

Madaotten until that moment, jumped down off the throne platfor to die with you"

"You would say that"