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He took a breath, and Rand heard that unsettling note in his voice, felt the intensity of it "I'm a vaic stuff, I was already so different from most humans That hy I was taken But she was my mother I remembered her"

Cai paused, realizing he was letting his need to strike out take over his emotions But God, he did remember her Two hundred years, and he still remembered her smell, the touch of her hand, her eyes Her s enough, Graham will die at my hands I've already taken two of the others ere at that audience It's not , but I know our paths will cross when the tiht"

Silence ruled the room When Lyssa did speak, it was in an unexpectedly mild tone "Since you don't walk in our circles, you may not be aware This Council bears no love for Graham Because he has violated our restrictions one too many times, he was recently stripped of his overlord title and is on a probation that will end in his death if one more violation reaches our ears"

She unlaced her hands and placed the palms flat on the desk "If that happens, his servant will be separated from him, if she doesn't wish to follow him into death"

Cai blinked "You can do that? Separate a fully marked servant from the vampire?"

"We have had some limited success, for special situations" Lyssa waved a hand, indicating she wasn't going to be deviated from the topic "She's not responsible for her Master's crimes However, she is not the saoes through servants at a distasteful rate He's a disgrace to our society But Lord Georg is not He has been a good overlord before this happened"

"Before the Ennui got to him?"

Her expression closed "You are aware of the condition"

"I know a few things about your world It's also affected some Trads"

"Then you have shown more discretion and kindness than I anticipated fro is an overwrought father and vae, his fear for his daughter But I expect you know that, which is why you requested a private audience, isn't it? So you could speak frankly without causing him more distress"

Rand's gaze slid to Cai, surprised when his face shuttered Thanks to Cai's explanation of his background, most the ire he'd felt at the va like an asshole, but Rand now understood better why Though, because he could be an asshole, Rand wasn't entirely sure why Cai hadn't wanted him here

Did he think finding out he'd been a victie--

Not a fucking victim

Jacob started, and even Lyssa stiffened in surprise as Cai erupted from the chair, so violently it thudded to its side In one step, he was facing off with Rand like he intended to attack His fists were clenched, eyes like living flame

It happened so fast, Rand reacted exactly as a ould Flat ears, curled lip, hackles raised, tail out straight and feet braced Ready for a fight, knowing he was standing right on the threshold on one Cai e, his mouth set in a flat line

If that's what you think, then Icome back

He wanted Rand to attack Rand had pressed the trigger that would let Cai act out, wreak havoc Anything but having to sit here, talking in this absurdly civilized study about so wild and hellish unearthed from a place deep inside of him he didn't touch

Rand had told Cai a shifter was a virtually foolproof lie detector He hadn't explained that an extension of that was the ability to use aniuage just as illu His emotions

Slowly, Rand's flattened ears lifted to a pricked-up position, his tail lowering fro the vampire's expression turn confused as Rand stopped next to him Rand lowered his haunches to the carpet, the rest of hi-down pose on the carpet His shoulder was against Cai's leg

The va away from Lyssa and Jacob, so they didn't see what Rand did, the easing of tension from his features, the bitterly rueful look Cai closed his eyes, and his fist opened, his fingertips brushing Rand's face as Rand dipped his head to the contact, a dignified acknowledgment

You're in my personal space, wolf

Have your back You piss off all

It's my superpower

Cai's shoulders lifted in a sigh, and Rand watched his face rearrange into a ain "Sorry about that," Cai said politely "Domestic issue Where e?"

Lyssa studied hih Cai He wanted to get this done Really wanted to be out of here

Fortunately, Lyssa seeer on the unexpected episode "So you can lead us to where these Trads are," Lyssa said "Do you think a single assassin could do an extraction? Or would an armed party have better success?"