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Without ever forgetting his purpose there, which was to suss out any signs of possession by a walk-in, Ryder delighted in the pleasures around hi, the impeccably trained waitstaff, the perfect restoration of a building that had been just as lovely nearly a century ago, when it had been the private residence of an old New Orleans family and Ryder had attended a Christmas ball there By New Year’s he had been run out of town by thedebutante he had met at that party…

But that had been another era

Earlier he had seen Shauna dash by in a rush of scarlet and gold, but there had been no sign of the other Keepers Focused as he was on the task of recognizing any signs of walk-in possession a Caitlin again

As he thought it, his eye was drawn up the sweeping staircase--and his heart al at the top of the stairs, poised and still, looking down over the crowd as if taking it in, taking a breath, before her descent

She was unbelievably beautiful in a gown sparkling with crystals that ht Al anyone, anything, like her

She took a breath that he felt in his own chest and started down the stairs, not at a walk, but floating, a queen descending to her destiny

He stepped forward to clai on the stairs, Caitlin felt the warled sensual delights

Everything below her was candlelight and la taste and would never allow anything less than period perfection at his parties

The se, delicate she-crab soup and set-your-rant flowers and sensual perfuht and anticipation And for a moment Caitlin understood that the Others kept the mysterious history of New Orleans, just as the Keepers kept the balance between the needs of the Others and humankind

And then she felt a rush of heat beyond the pleasing glow of fires in theof candles and the sparkle of chaood ti at the bottoht up at her

He was dressed in an e Ar his guests aside at the door and providing a costume to suit his ideas of proper dress Caitlin knew he kept a superbly stocked dressing room for just that purpose

But Ryder wore the finery as if he had been born to it The ue, but royalty And the intention on his face, in his eyes, was breathtaking His desire was as clear as if he were speaking aloud, not si Caitlin slowed on the stairs, overwhelmed by the power of it--and at the same time acutely aware of her oer over him

She stopped on the bottom step, and Ryder moved forward and bowed as if he had done it every day of his life--then held out an arhtly on his ar that electric jolt between them

His eyes were fixed on hers as if he would never look away "You are the loveliest thing in this room," he said, without a trace of irony, and Caitlin felt herself blush froh, erotic flame "And the loveliest woman I have ever seen," he added softly, and she felt her insides dissolve, her head spin

She had no idea how to respond to hi in the intense focus of his wanting It was a s, around them, but they were alone in the room, alone in the universe

"We have work to do," she said

Although she could see from his face that he understood co the ravely courteous There was not a trace ofthe roo any ely than Others tend to act at a party"

"That’s good," she answered, aware of hoard the nuts-and-bolts conversation was, considering their circumstances and attire She felt as if she were trapped in aa role that was layered over the truth of what she wanted to live

"How do these Councilat her mouth as he spoke She tried to focus…but all she wanted was for him to kiss her