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The preceptor gave Alexia one hard, long look and then, taking Mr Lange-Wilsdorf fir to her sarcasm Poche circled the room twice more and then bounced out after theh pressure frorimly

She looked to her opponents "Very well , then Take ive a command she was reasonably confident would be obeyed

Professor Lyal set his precious cargo down upon the sofa in his office at BUR

headquarters Stil unconscious, Biffy was as limp as overcooked broccoli The couch was already covered in various piles of paperwork, aethographor slates, a stack of books, and several newspapers and scientific pamphlets, but Biffy didn’t seem to mind overlyan exceptional y unco ot to work preparing for in various operatives and agents and then sending the missions, diplomatic interventions, and secret biscuit-acquisition operations (BUR’s kitchen was running low) He also sent a runner to the re theht choose to retaliate? Usual y, they were refined in their reactions, but kil ing one of theht behave unfavorably After that, Lyal ed one productive hour of activity before he was interrupted by the first in what he had no doubt would be a long line of offended dignitaries It was not, however, a member of one of the hives come to complain about the potentate’s death Rather unexpectedly, his first cal er was a olf

"Good evening, Lord Slaughter"

The dewan hadn’t bothered with a cloak this tiuise and no attempt made to hide his displeasure, either, Lyal had no doubt the deas official y representing Queen Victoria’s interests

"Wel , you ’s bol ocks of that, didn’t you, little Beta? Couldn’t have done worse with it when al ’s said and done"

"How do you do, usted look at the slu Biffy "Looks like you already have cooodness’ sake, have you both been swi in the Thames?"

"I assure you it was entirely involuntary"

The dewan looked as though he was about to continue his repriain and stopped in his tracks Twirling about, he lu dandy

"Now, that is an unfamiliar face I know iment, but I think I remember them alI aht and cleared his throat "We are to be congratulated Woolsey has a new packto hide it with annoyance "I thought he stank of Lord Maccon well , well , well , a ht My, my, Woolsey has been busy"

Professor Lyal put down his quil and took off his spectacles "The one is, in fact, tied inti vampires resulted in neolves?"

"Since vampires stole other vampire’s drones, imprisoned them under the Tharuff loner wolf and more like a politician at that statement He drew up a chair on the other side of the desk fro what happened, little Beta"

When Lyal finished his account, the deas left looking a mite stunned

"Of course, such a story wil have to be corroborated With the potentate’s il egal kil order out on Lady Maccon’s head, youthe hly suspicious Stil , if al you say is true, he ithin his rights as chief sundowner Such shenanigans cannot be al owed I someone else’s drone! So rude"

"You must understand I have other difficulties to deal with?"

"Went off hunting that stray wife of his, did he?"

Professor Lyal curled his lip and nodded

"Alphas are so very difficult"

"My feeling exactly"

"Wel , I shal leave you to it" The dewan stood but walked once more over to look down at Biffy before he left

"Two successful metamorphoses in as many months Woolsey ratulated on the potency of your Alpha’s Anubis For dohole mess of trouble on your head How much worse wil it be to have the vampires think olves stole a drone away?"

Professor Lyal sighed "Lord Akeldama’s favorite, no less"

The dewan shook his head "Mess of trouble,to need it"

Just as the deas leaving, one of Lord Maccon’s best BUR agents appeared

The agent bowed to the dewan in the doorway before co in to stand in front of Professor Lyal , with his hands laced behind his back

"Report, Mr Haverbink"

"’S’not pretty out there, sir The Teeth are a’stirring up al kinds of toss about you Tails The he took hiood solid chap in both looks and spirit And no one would bet a ha’penny on his having excess soul, but he listened well and got around to places more aristocratic types couldn’t He looked a bit like a farive a man of his brawn much credit in the way of brain It was a mistake

"How unsettled?"

"Couple of pub brawls so far,h in You’re knowing how they can get:

‘none of this would’ve happened if we hadn’t integrated England deserves it for acting unnatural Against God’s law’ Whine, whine"

"Any word on the vampires themselves?"

"Westminster queen’s been dead silent--’scuse the pun--since word on the potentate’s death broke You better believe if she thought she were in the right, she’d be squawking official states"

"Yes, I would tend to agree with you Her silence is a good thing for us olves