tant but overly solicitous. He

ing pale and fragile,

eak whisper. "Thank you for understanding

ak with the head gardener, l

s demeanor changed. The fragility vanishe

" she said, her voice suddenly stronger

What are you talki

rses' you've been taking for me were just my natural purification cycles? Darling, those were the overf

aught. "Sup

ent for a breeze was just... inconvenient. He found a way to cap it, then divert all the unplea

ng with malice. "And it wasn't jus

ng dread

spiratorial whisper. "Their tragic accident during that high

. A little nudge from an outside force. A force that wanted me to have ev

urdered m

pected. His "Time-Rewinding Mirror" could show him

refully constructed real

nd absolute,

hands outstretched, a

vip

there, his hand clamping ont

sealed my lips. I tried to scream, to curse her, but no soun

his face a mask of cold fury.

directe

d, his grip bruising. "Olivia is un

behind him, f

turned

r. Again. U

ent: a formal Severance Contract, invoking ancient Guardian law. It wa

e center of his d

ted for Lun

of Luna's quiet acolytes, cloaked and s

light flicker in Olivia's window. She was standi

hand in a m

contract. And he woul

lligator, already dead from some bayou misadventure. She'd infused it wi

to bear another "Cleansing Curse," had fina

silently through the dark waters of the