h Gilles

who it was. I pushed myself off the wall an

ng past, blood soaking through my stockings, and neither moved. One nudged the other wi

r. I'd heard worse for three years in th

like a wall. The hearth was empty-the s

ith my ankles when the door slam

. She didn't look at the blood on my feet. She t

was sharp and nasal. "So you don't get any fool

open. My hands wou

out, along with a scra

s wrists and chest. Where the metal touched skin, the flesh was blackened, blistered, weeping pus and blood. Werewolve

lood, five crooked words: Ever

paper, smear

a satisfied smile. "Without the Matriarch's word, he won't last un

her coat lapels. "You framed him! Eber didn't start

e back with pure-blooded st

gth. Tonight at ten, go to the main kitchen. Take the calming tonic on the stove to Lord Damon's room in the

d the door

y note to my chest, shaking too hard to cry.

les-I hissed at the sting. Clean black stockings. High-

nine forty-five, I was walking throug

l porcelain tureen warm. A silver-trimmed tray sat

ted t

ng tonic. But beneath it-something sweet.

e name Lotus Sage. I'd spent years studying rar

n L

elm most wolves' biology-even an Alpha's. Inhaled as steam, it wa

een. I wanted to po

my mind. If I destroyed it, Estelle wo

d. Poured the soup into the bowl. Set

ital recording pen. I'd traded a spirit-ink painting for it back when I was still working as Lotus

The pen would sync a sealed copy to my dead-drop account the moment it touched the Ea

tray out, and stepped into the biting night air. A

rcement Council delegates stayed here. Second-floor wi

r stairs. My heart sl

shook so badly the spoon rattled against the porcela

a deep voice cut through the do

like an ornament, I suggest you