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“You can let the wind carry that over the desert now,” she said “That younger Danny can rest in peace, such that she is” He nodded “And what about you?”
Her lips twisted, and she tangled the fingers of her other hand with his e it to her face, she rested her face in his pal into his touch “I’ve got one more monster to handle”
“You’re not going to—”
“Not tonight” She lifted her chin, and he saw that streak of cold purpose gli ti to come to that Ian hat I’d expect from most of my kind Ruskin” She paused
“Ruskin is a true monster”
As she began to rise, they helped each other up In the sainst hie to slide his arms around her, hold her close, but she slipped by him, turned at the door, the lady of the manor returned
“Let’s go get this fucking evening over with, shall we?”
The courtyard was an area enclosed with a low stone wall, a frame built over it with screen curtains draped on the sides to keep the flies fro with refreshments Aapti was there already, her face drawn but coarment now, a skirt low on her hips and the stretched bodice from dinner that still showed the treasures she had to offer She sat on one of the walls, a decanter of brandy next to her, ready to serve her Master if called
The British va suitably attired Danny’s tight breeches and snug long-sleeved shirt would have been an indecent outfit, but she’d obviously dressed in anticipation of the exercise, how she would need to ly, she left her feet bare The courtyard was carpeted in flat stone tile
When Dev took a position in the opposite corner from Aapti, he sat down on his haunches, his bootheels flat on the ground, his back curved and body balanced without the support of the wall behind hiines It was a tranquil pose, and he definitely needed tranquillity
As she war He couldn’t help but have aof a feainst a th and skill at arms
“Sabers?” Lord Charles nodded to the teapons she’d brought out Danny nodded, tossed one to hiht by the hilt and examined the blade “Your mother’s weapons?”
“One set of them She had others, but these were the ones I most preferred Three strikes?”
“Versus collegiate rules?”
Danny’s lips twisted “Lord Charles, ere doing this when dueling was raed it with a bow and humorless smile “We’ll speak of Ian’s death and the debt you owe me after our bout When I defeat you, I will have the upper hand It is eous to me”
“Lord Charles, whether you win or lose this match, you will never have the upper hand on me”
“We shall see” He flashed teeth “En garde”
Dev tried to keep himself relaxed, at least outwardly And he had to admit his sheila had well-developed skills As the two circled, feinted, parried, riposted, clashed, ducked and spun, running the ga, the stockmen who’d completed their tasks or were idle had circled to the outside of the courtyard to watch While they stayed at a respectful distance, the vampires didn’t seem toand calling out Dev was sure part of it was they were absorbed by their new Mistress, as a hell of a lot better to look at than Ian or Ruskin She was bloodyHe had to force himself to focus past that to note the way she coht with quickness and superior flexibility The first blood was hers, a slice that went over his guard and nicked his shoulder, leaving a bloom of blood on the white fabric
They backed off, circled again Charles was no longer looking relaxed and urbane, the polished aristocrat He’d shifted to that aura of unnatural stillness, and Dev knew before the second strike came that he had her on this one She parried in, and on the riposte, he lunged forward unexpectedly and jabbed her thigh, the blade scraping off, but tearing the fabric as she spun away She’d put up her blond hair to keep it out of her way, holding it in place with sticks Dev narrowed his eyes, wondering if they’d cos For some reason, he was almost sure they had