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evening gown. Her hair was artfully arranged but there certainly seemed to be
less of it than there had been the last time I d seen her. On the whole the
two of them looked remarkably well for having been burnt to a crisp four
nights before.
Did the grand lady get the servants all sorted out? Kali asked, her voice
light and airy as if she d just offered me a cup of tea.
I inclined my head but didn t answer. She stalked over to me, hips swaying,
and her eyes widened a bit. She leaned in and smelled me. I stiffened but
didn t step back. I would not allow her to see how scared I really was.
Oh you ve been a naughty girl, my little witch.
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Sebastian straightened and walked to me, his eyes never leaving my face.
What have you done? he whispered.
Ensured my survival, I said, much as you did, I ll wager.
I snatched the cheroot from his fingers and snubbed it out into a small,
rather ugly candy dish that must have been Amelia s.
If you d wanted to talk, all you had to do was say so, I said, wandering
through the room and trailing my fingers absently over the furniture. There
was no need to go to all this trouble.
I stopped in front of Thomas and Amelia, my back to Kali and Sebastian. I
tucked a lock of Amelia s hair behind her ear and winked at her. She stared at
me, frozen with terror, but Thomas seemed to understand. That understanding
flashed momentarily in his eyes and then was gone. He squeezed his wife s hand
and patted it but the expression on his face never changed. He d been a
soldier once; I was hoping that training would help him keep a level head
through this ordeal.
Forgive me, but you have been quite unreceptive to my invitations thus far.
Besides, we havetalked enough, you and I, Kali hissed, one hand reaching up
subconsciously to touch her hair. Now you either do my spell or you die, but
not before I make you watch as I kill everyone you love.
I shrugged, as if what she d just said meant less than nothing to me. Yes,
well, that doesn t really work for me anymore. I ve come to renegotiate.
Her eyes narrowed. Renegotiate?
Your terms, I elaborated.
I don t recall offering you any terms.
Yes, I guess you didn t. Do it or die , blah blah, I ll make you crawl .
But, you see, that was when I was weak and human. You have no power over me
anymore, Kali. Sure, you could kill me outright, cut off my head, stake me
through the heart, I flounced down in one of the wing chairs and smiled up at
her. But I m the only one who can get you what you want. So, I ve come to
renegotiate.
Fury boiled just below her skin but she kept her temper in check. What do
you want? You want me to promise I ll leave? Go back to my world and spare
your precious humans?
I waved a hand absently. I couldn t give a badger s ass what happens to the
lot of them. No, I ll do your spell for you and I ll get your crown back but
in return I want you to make me your High Priestess.
Kali stared at me. Sebastian laughed. I know her, she s lying. It s some
trick.
No trick, Sebastian. It s called self-preservation, an instinct I m sure you
know quite well. I realized the other night that I couldn t stand against her.
If she makes me her High Priestess then I ll be at her side and not caught
down here in the muck when the apocalypse comes about.
Sebastian stared at me and I gave him my best blank debutante smile, that
perfectly pleasant, slightly patronizing smile I saved for clumsy dance
partners and boring dinner companions.
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Done, Kali said, though she still didn t look like she entirely trusted my
new about-face. Smart demon but, really, what choice did she have if she
wanted her crown back?
Excellent, I said and bounded up from the chair. Now, let s get out of
here. No sense standing about inMayfair when we have places to go and spells
to cast.
Indeed, Kali said, but they come with us.
I looked back over my shoulder at Thomas and Amelia, trying not to panic.
Are you serious? I thought you were a woman of stronger appetites than that.
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