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“Prince Ranon, here” Guard Jaego hurried up with his horse

Ranon took a step, then looked at Shaddo and Archerr

“We’ll find a place to store the carrion until Talon rises and can get a look at the bastard,” Archerr said

“Go on,” Shaddo said “We’ll take care of things here”

Freed of any duties beyond the dog in his aralloped back to the Queen’s Residence with Dark after him

One of the Sceltiesfor him when he reached the Residence He dismounted and tossed a rein to the Sceltie, who led the horse to the stables

“Shira!” Ranon roared as he entered the house Sweet Darkness, let her be here He took Khollie into the parlor the court used and laid the dog on the sofa

“Hell’s fire, Ranon,” Shira said, rushing into the roo Khollie, she shoved him aside so hard she knocked him on his ass

He snarled at her, still too furious and too close to the killing edge to tolerate the shove, even from her

“Prince Ranon, attend”

Cassidy’s voice Strong De A leash that held his fury

Breathing hard, he rose and walked out of the parlor

“Report,” Cassidy said, then held up a hand and led hi room

Powell came into the room, followed by Spere, Burne, and Cayle A , rushed into the room

“Report, Ranon,” Cassidy said

He told the from the moment he had left Khollie at Elders’ Park for story time to the moment he had wrapped the Sceltie in his shirt and ridden back to the Residence to get help

Ally pale face, he couldn’t tell her how Dark the still-beating heart in the dog’s jaws

“Hell’s fire,” Spere said when Ranon stopped talking “I’et aith it, but why did he do it in the first place?”

He belongs to the other Queen Vae stood in the doorway Ranon couldn’t tell if she quivered with anger or fear I remember her smells She is on his clothes

Cassidy swayed Gray wrapped an arm around her waist

“Kermilla did this?” Cassidy asked

Her smells are on him Vae left the room

“Did you recognize him, Ranon?” Burne asked

Ranon shook his head

Cassidy sed hard “If he belongs to her First Circle, I could identify—”

“No,” Ranon said After Darkmist unleashed that punch of Opal power, the ured out why it looked wrong, he wasn’t letting Cassidy near the body Wasn’t letting Shira near it either

“Archerr and Shaddo are going to find a place to store the body until Talon rises,” Ranon said “As Master of the Guard, this falls to him now, Lady”

“Ranon is correct,” Powell said “And as Talon’s second-in-command, the decisions of what to do with the enemy are Ranon’s to make, Lady, not yours”