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I curse the heavy black velvet skirts that skis her curvaceous fra flashes of her back when her hair sways An ornate crystalline crown rests on top of her head She appears to glide as she leads us up the path toward a snow-capped mountain A woman on a mission, her pace is relentless We reach the top of the trail that dead ends into a mountainside

Sebile waves her hand An opening appears carved into the rock

“This is as far as I can allow anyone other than Louella to go What’s beneath this mountain has been revealed to a select few Each ree to enter, it e”

“Wait, you expect us to allow her to go in there alone?” Marcellus asks

“Are you questioning rity?” Sebile counters

“When it couarantee her safety Since we’ve been here, you’ve spoken no words defining our protection in your kingdom”

“You want an oath then?” she asks slowly

“I do That she will be unhar else you encounter while you’re inside that mountain”

Sebile tilts her head to the side “That’s a lot to ask”

“Only if you’re planning on doing so less than honorable,” Larkin says

“Clever vampires,” Sebile crows We’re sport to her A fun interruption of the monotony that is immortality “I swear that no harm that befalls her inside will be due to me I refuse to take responsibility for actions she takes which ood as proet from her

Marcellus’ clenches his jaw “Fine Lady, proceed”

“I agree,” I say solemnly

“The mountain is alive It chooses who shares its secrets” She steps into the cave Shrouded in shadows, she could be death’s handive s

“Oh” Ice coats every inch of the stone Icicles hang down like fringe