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At least one good thing had come from Kermilla’s visit: Theran was too preoccupied withher to pay attention to the fact that Cassidy was reaching out to the other Queens in Dena Nehele

Ranon stared at the special flower bed Gray had made for Cassidy—the plants were similar to ones found in Dharo but were native to Dena Nehele The coround, Gray called it

He’d been coivenLady Kermilla an open-ended invitation to stay at Grayhaven Shira was acting peculiar in a way that unnerved hi in hi with a Black Widow, and there was a reason why that caste of witch was feared

“Thought I’d find you here,” Talon said

He half turned toward the voice, but didn’t speak for athe heart out of Cassidy”

“Oh, I think we’ve all figured out what that so, but he lifted his chin to indicate the stone storage shed where Gray used to live because he was too frightened to enter the house

His heart pounding, Ranon glanced at the house before drifting toward the back of the shed What did the Master of the Guard want to say to him that couldn’t be said inside the house?

“What?” he began

Talon raised his left hand The two ers were a reminder that this man had not lived a soft life—even after he became demon-dead

A minute later, Archerr, Spere, and Shaddo slipped behind the shed A minute after that, Bardric and Cayle joined them

“Burne, Haele, and Radley are providing a presence in the parlor this evening,” Talon said “Archerr, you’ll relay instructions to Burne and Haele Cayle, you’ll keep Radley informed”

I’ht spear thread to direct the words only to Talon

I knohat you are, Talon replied sharply You have the task of keeping Gray and the Black Widow leashed And yourself

Shit You don’t ask for much

If you don’t have the balls for it, tell me now

Stung by the verbal slap, Ranon didn’t answer

“What about Powell?” Archerr asked

“I’ll keep the Steward informed,” Talon said

What did Powell say? Ranon asked, wondering if anyone else had noticed a slight hesitation in Talon’s reply

Later “Our Queen is distressed The visitors are the reason We need to find out why”

“How does Kermilla know Lady Cassidy?” Spere asked

“I can’t see that the two of the in common except caste,” Shaddo said

“She re at the bones,” Bardric said

Shaddo nodded “And Dena Nehele is the bones We’ve seen bitches like her before”

“She’s entertaining,” Cayle said “And she’s false You can see it in her eyes What’s she looking for here?”