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"Ah, oui--pardon," the lish "My apologies, young lady ’Tis an old habit difficult to break, I’ave me a curt nod "Welcoazeyou"

What I wanted to say was, That’s great, really, but how can you help uy over there who has been stalking me? Firm pressure at my back froh, I screato Gilles Dupré in perfect French I waited, stunned, and picked up only one word in the fast translation: Seth It was getting more and more difficult to keep my mouth shut, and already I’d had more than I could take of all the silent stares and scrutiny But just as I was about to lose it, Gilles turned back to rasped both of id beside me, but I remained caluy onto his back

Gilles glanced down at our joined hands, and I watched his eyes follow the tail of ain, the sensation of complete fascination came over me as he spoke "Riley Poe The painted one," he said, almost with admiration "You are well loved by your dark brethren here, as is your brother You arefarave nod "I do understand about faant sweep of his hand, he glanced to the others "This is my fahter, Josephine, and my boys"--he motioned farther with his hand--"Séraphin, Jean-Luc, and over there in the corner, brooding, is ius"

I stared wordlessly at the family Dupré Elise, petite, with perfectly coiffed dark hair pulled back into an elegant ponytail, was at least fifteen years younger than her husband She save a short, sophisticated nod Their daughter, Josephine, stood next to herh she wanted to say so in naturally wild curls to nearly her waist and parted in the s pinned back hippy style, and wide cerulean blue eyes just like her parents’ stared blatantly at h-top sneakers, and a black T-shirt with a hot pink peace sign on the front, she looked like every other average teenager She glanced at aze "I like your boots And it’s Josie" She gave a wicked grin

Preacher oncea word, and her hts

Séraphin and Jean-Luc studieda word, and they looked so much alike, they could’ve easily been twins Both with athletic physiques and dark blond hair, Séraphin wore his close clipped while Jean-Luc’s was longer and crazy They regarded me in silence, yet their expressions revealed intense curiosity and so else I couldn’t define just then Then Jean-Luc flashed rinned All I kneas, no ius was the one that affected ave only a brief glance at hiood looks and harsh stares and was beginning to get really pissed off at him and this whole situation What the hell was all this about? Why had Eligius been following me, what had happened to the dead body, and--Shit! I was confused Why had Preacher brought me here? How could these people help Seth? And why couldn’t I say anything? I glanced at Preacher, who also said nothing, but I knew that look It said, Do what I said, girl Finally, I returnedmore than wait

"Now that you have observed rave;re, knoell Just as we know you well; ill all becoant finger, and I struggled not to knock it away He smiled "Ah, oui Your Preacher has told us of your dislike for huer across my jaw once more "I can assure you--’tis not what you think"

The rest of the Duprés chuckled as well--all except Eligius, and despite my previous promise, I just couldn’t help myself I narrowed my eyes "You’ve no idea what I think"

Preachersound besideI didn’t know but had a pretty good idea about I gave hih I knew good and hat

"Corasped ed me toward the chair he’d vacated earlier, and for some reason, I allowed it "Sit We’vea curious look at Preacher, who si

Gilles stood at the hearth, elbow propped against a long, polished antique an "Your Gullah brethren and my family have known one another for ht, delicate "And with regret I confess we’ve all grown coain at uard down, even for a moment It was--"

"Gilles," his wife, Elise, said softly "Please"