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Before he could bang on the door again—or break it down—it opened

“Prince Theran,” Dryden said too courteously to be courteous

“I want to see Cassidy”

“If you ait here, I will see if the Lady is at home”

“Don’t give ainst the door “She’ll see me, and she’ll see me now”

Dryden’s eyes blazed with anger, but his face and voice retained the butler poise “I will see—”

Theran? Theran! You ait in the visitors’ parlor and be polite

Theran shoved at the door “Shut up, Vae”

She snarled at him A moment later, someone else snarled Behind him

Purple Dusk against Green? He could take her down But he was having trouble getting a sense of the Sceltie behind him

If it was a Sceltie behind him

The h his mind

“Fine,” he said through gritted teeth “I’ll wait and be polite”

Dryden and Vae escorted hiuard—until Gray walked into the room

How could a nized the face because it was so sireen eyes—or that blend of power and assurance that was now part of Gray’s psychic scent

“Cassie is not available,” Gray said “Is there so I can do for you?”

It was the coldness in that voice that jabbed his temper He called in the document and held it up “Can you explain this?”

Gray flicked a glance at the paper “You don’t want to be First Escort I do You don’t want to serve Cassie I do”

Theran’s jaw dropped “You? Hell’s fire, Gray Do you knohat you’ve done?”

“Yes, I do”

Ker to beco on to serve Cassidy now is a slap in the face She’ll never consider you for any kind of position in her court”

“And I wouldn’t consider taking one,” Gray replied

“Do you knohat’s required of a man to stand as First Escort? Gray, you can’t do this”

“I’ve spent the past fewto be a First Escort, and I’m qualified to serve Queen and court in that position What kind of training do you have, Theran?”

None

“I don’t see why you’re acting so pissy about this,” Gray said “You’re up in Grayhaven We’re down here You haven’t fulfilled your duties to Queen or court for months now”

“I wasn’t dancing to Cassidy’s tune, no, but that doesn’t ood of Dena Nehele”

“That’s a matter of opinion”

Stung past insult, Theran vanished the document and took a step back Gray had made his choice, and may the Darkness have mercy on him

“Is your position in the court official yet?” Theran asked

Gray nodded “I signed the contract this ”

Mother Night

“Well, I guess I’m free to—”