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"I think he’s paranoid"

"Ours is not to question, but I believe the --"

The other va his coed froood-byes on the stoop Mada herself up into a cab, and Lady Maccon was left alone, looking thoughtful on the front steps

The two vampires moved forward toward her Lyall did not knohat they intended, but he guessed it was probably not good It certainly was not worth risking his Alpha’s wrath to find out Quick as a flash, he slithered underneath one of the va for the other, teeth snapping hard around anklebone The first va rapidly, jumped so fast to one side as to be alht Lyall, of course, was not nor the va into the ed toward hi for his tail

The entire scuffle took place in al the activity

It gave Lady Maccon just enough tih she did not know she needed it, to clie and set off down the street

The two vaht

"Well, that’s a sticky wicket," said one

"Werewolves," said the other in disgust He spat at Lyall, who paced, hackles raised, between the any idea of pursuit Lyall paused to sniff delicately at the wad of spit--eau de Westminster Hive

"Really," said the first to Lyall, "eren’t going to harm one hair of that swarthy Italian head We simply had a little test in mind No one would have even known"

The other elbowed him, hard "Hush you, that’s Professor Lyall, that is Lord Maccon’s Beta The less he knows about anything, the better"

With that, the two doffed their hats at the still growling, still bristling wolf in front of the, took off at a leisurely pace toward Bond Street

Professor Lyall would have followed, but he decided on more precautionary measures and set a brisk trot to follow Alexia and ensure she arrived hoht Professor Lyall when he came in, just before dawn He looked exhausted, his already lean face pinched and drawn

"Ah, Lady Maccon, you have waited up for me? How kind"

She searched for the sarcasuised He was good Alexia often wondered if Professor Lyall had been an actor before ed to hold on to his creativity despite sacrificing most of his soul for i, as expected

He confirmed her suspicions Whatever it was that had caused the wide-scale lack of supernatural was definitely heading north BUR had determined that the hour of London’s return to supernatural norair Pack toward Scotland He was not surprised that Lady Maccon had arrived at the saainst the idea that she should go trailing after

"Well, who else should go? I, at least, will remain entirely unaffected by the affliction"

Professor Lyall glared at her "No one should go after it The earl is perfectly capable of handling the situation, even if he doesn’t yet know he has two problems to deal with You seeed for centuries before you appeared in our lives"

"Yes, but look what a s prior to my arrival" Lady Maccon was not to be dissuaded from her chosen course of action "Soair is to bla, he’ll find out as soon as he arrives His lordship would not like you following him"

"His lordship can eat ht the better of her crass words, and said, "--does not have to like it Nor do you The fact ree on the afternoon’s dirigible to Glasgow His lordship can take it up with me when I arrive"

Professor Lyall had no doubt that his poor Alpha would do just that and be siive in so easily "You shall have to take Tunstell with you, at the very least The lad has been pining to visit the north ever since his lordship left, and he will be able to keep an eye on you"

Lady Maccon was truculent "I do not need him Have you seen my new parasol?"

Lyall had seen the purchase order and been suitably impressed, but he was no fool "A woman, even a married woman, cannot float without proper escort It is simply not done You and I are both well aware of that fact"

Lady Maccon frowned He was right, bother it She sighed and figured that at least Tunstell was a pushover

"Oh, very well, if you insist," she conceded with ill grace

The intrepid Beta, older than reater London environs--Lord Maccon and the dewan included--did the only thing he could under the circuave a little bow, and took hi Lady Maccon in possession of the field

Her ladyship sent the hovering Floote to rouse poor Tunstell froive hi for Scotland The claviger, who had only just cliht looking at ladies’ hats, wondered a tad about the sanity of his otten very little sleep, Lady Maccon co Or, it should be said elique over what should be packed She was interrupted by a visit from the only person on the planet capable of consistently routing her in verbal skirracious, what on earth is she doing here? And at such an early hour!" Alexia put the calling card back down on the little silver tray; checked her appearance, which was only just passable for receiving; and wondered if she should take the ti or face criticis to a lady of rank? She chose the latter, deciding to get the encounter over and done with as quickly as possible

The wo for her in the front parlor was a diminutive blond with a rosy co a visiting dress of pink and white stripes that would better suit a lady half her age