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"I do see Is there any way in which I may provide assistance?"

While this conversation took place, Biffy charged at Alexia She barely had time to ar her gallantly

He took on the brunt of the attack Biffy’s claws scraped down the va deep into the muscle Old black blood seeped out At the same time, the olf’s jaws locked about Lord Akeldah the meatiest part The pain must have been pheno will shake off water Even as Alexia watched, Lord Akeldaan to heal

Biffy launched hirappled, Lord Akeldama always just that split second faster and a whole lot craftier so that even with all the predatory advantages afforded by the olf state, Biffy could not break the vaainst hi to have this little chat with you, et overly clingy, don’t you find?"

The va loose from its ribbon, and he appeared to have lost his cravat pin

"My darling pu affection, I assure you It is purely by accident"

"You are too charisood"

"You said it, rip and speed to lever the wolf off of him and hurl the creature across the rooainst the wall and slid down, taking several watercolors with hi ailt frames He shook himself and stumbled dizzily to his feet

Alexia fired the parasol Her dart struck home and the olf collapsed back He see control of bits of himself, but then, quicker than any vaainst the effects of the drug and regained his feet She wondered if Madaent was up to snuff or if it was simply less effective on olves

Lord Akelda the wolf’s attention and directing his next charge away fro on a new tactic, "If you think you could hold hi touch You know, some lads these days simply require a female to administer discipline"

"Of course, my plum, of course"

Biffy hit Lord Akeldama broadside, and in the same move his about the wolf, Lord Akeldama used the beast’s ownfeat of wrestling, the va firmly over the nose With his other ars, Lord Akeldama secured Biffy’s hindquarters It was a reility and flexibility Alexia was duly i wrestled a bit with her husband Lord Akeldama was clearly very experienced in the

Alexia knew the va In the end, Biffy was stronger and would break free, but Lord Akeldama did have the beasther own safety to the winds, leaned forward, not unexpectedly losing her balance She landed fully atop both supernatural creatures, ensuring her bare hands were in contact with Biffy but turning both men mortal in her enthusiasm

It was a very odd sensation, for in such a position, Alexia was unco from wolf to human She could feel the slide ofbelly as he shifted It was eerily like the feel of her child kicking underneath her own skin

Biffy hoith the pain of it, directly into Alexia’s ear A howl that turned to a screa, and finally little snuffles of acute embarrassment Then, as he came to the horrific realization of what he had almost done, he turned to his former master

"Oh, dear, oh, dear Oh dear" It was a litany of distress "My lord, are you well? Did I cause any permanent injury? Oh look at your trousers! Oh,was paused midway so that the claw marks were still visible under the tattered ribbons of his silken britches

"?’Tis but a scratch, my pet Do not trouble yourself so" He looked down at himself "Well, several scratches, to be precise"

At this juncture, Alexia was forced into a realization that rather shook the foundations of her universe: there are some circumstances that even the very best manners could not possibly rectify This was one such situation For there she lay, pregnant and out of balance, atop a pile consisting of one overdressed vampire and one underdressed olf

"Biffy," she said finally, "to what do e the pleasure of your visit? I was under the i" It was a valiant attempt, but even such talk as this could not mask the aardness

Lord Akeldama attempted to unwind himself from Biffy and extract hith When this was finally accomplished, he stood, dashed to the door to reassure his drones of his unda

Biffy and Alexia helped each other to rise

"Are you unharmed, my lady?"

Alexia did a quick internal check "It would appear so Remarkably resilient, this baby of h"

Biffy helped her to an ottoman--one of the few pieces of furniture in the room not overturned--her hand firrappling with how best to handle their predica instru aard silences Alexia handed Biffy a shawl, only slightly saliva-ridden He set it gratefully in his lap

She tried not to look, of course she did, but Biffy did have a rather nice physique Not nearly so splendid as her husband’s, but not everyone could be built like a stea dandy had kept himself well in hand before metamorphosis, for all his frivolous pursuits

"Biffy, were you secretly a Corinthian?" Alexia wondered out loud before she could stop herself

Biffy blushed "No,rather ht consider healthy"

Lady Maccon nodded sagely

Lord Akelda not a whit put out His brief sojourn a his drones had resulted in hair and neck cloth back to crisp and pristine order and a new pair of satin trousers How do they do it? wondered Alexia

"Biffy, duckling, what a surprise your visiting little old me at this time of moon" He handed his former drone a pair of sapphire-colored britches