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St Pierre took a long ive you Jagger DeFarge"

The vampire rose from his table and walked up to the podium that had materialized just to the left of the head table

"My Brother and Sister Others," Jagger began formally, the sareat danger to our city I hope that, as in previous times of attack, of threats to our balance, our way of life, ill put our differences aside and band together to repel this eneure--andto this Council, after all, he ht?

Outside the banquet hall, Caitlin found refuge in the bathroom--a sumptuous affair that continued the Victorian theme There were roses everywhere, in the wallpaper, carved into the light fixtures, tastefully arranged in crystal vases on the sinks and s on the walls The whole powder roorance of rose oil It combined with her already overstimulated state to create…an even rip, she chided herself, staring into the golden rose-rimmed ance of her dress and hair

You have work to do You can’t go off the deep end about a one with the wind--literally--toh to think about venturing back to the , she breathed in and pulled the bathroom door open

In the dark hall in front of her, a pale faceback…

Armand St Pierre stepped forward frohtened you,"

Caitlin relaxed, recognizing the shapeshifter Then she i crucial, if the Council Chair was coize

"I’ant shapeshifter lifted a hand "Not at all The…" He paused, and there was so both delicate and loaded in the way he spoke the next words "The bounty hunter will soon be speaking, and I was hoping to have the opportunity to talk with you alone first"

"Of course," she answered auto Does he know Ryder? Is so about to cruraciously, and extended an ar her back to lead her down the hall away fro room

He unlocked a carved walnut door at the end of the corridor and ushered Caitlin into what could only have been his personal business office There was a cos and antique office paraphernalia that belonged in adaily use in the running of the restaurant and business

As soon as he closed the door behind them, Caitlin turned to him, too anxious to hold back the question

"Do you know Ryder, then?"

St Pierre laughed softly and extended a gracious hand toward the sitting area "My dear, you and your sisters never cease to amaze me The city has been in the most competent and lovely of hands ever since your ascension"

Caitlin had always been uncoe, but she kneas not an affectation; the shapeshifter was several centuries old

Then soed in his one, as if he’d read her mind "We won’t mince words, however You are correct I do know the bounty hunter--frorave doubts as to the veracity of the story he’s bringing us"

Caitlin’s heart sank…but in a way she had known, had always known Ryder I knew I couldn’t trust him It’s all been a lie

St Pierre’s eyes were keen on her face, absorbing her reaction She kneas reading what she was feeling

"My dear, the last thing I would ever want is to see you or one of your sisters hurt We had enough of a scare--just o, wasn’t it? A near-lethal threat to both your sister and you?" He shook his head "And I was every bit as shocked as you were that one of our oas the cemetery killer I’m afraid that the e And I’m even more afraid that’s precisely the case here"

Caitlin felt the pressure of growing horror and dismay It was all her fault She had so wanted to believe in Ryder…and in her fog of distraction, she had brought an insidious evil into the community

"What…what do you know?" she asked, shakily

"I knoe ht"

Her heart cried out that it could not be true Trust your heart, Ryder’s voice whispered to her And in thatdoubts, and listened, really listened, to the shapeshifter leaning toward her earnestly