Mood

th tension. The last of Meredith's feigned elega

er voice dangerously low. "You d

dy. "I said, I cannot accept. I w

. I would take back wha

forming in my mind for hours. "I demand a formal disso

hey had clearly never imagined that I, the ev

rded the weak. For a human to demand a

sane?" she shrieked. "Who do you think you are? You

do you not understand your situation? We are offering you th

ing over me with an air of absolute aut

. It wasn't strong, but it was enough to make a n

I locked my knees, forc

w that Lord Whitehead is recovered, the contract's purpose is fulfilled. According

e terms of that ancient contrac

d ugly. She hadn't expected

atures like you. I can arrange for your 'accidental' death i

hey won't even find your body. And your family, thos

ain lanced through m

uld only encourage more cruelty. If I agreed to be a mist

I will make sure the entire Vorrath Keep knows that the House of Whitehead murdered an

of one human. But I am certain they care about the reputation of House Whitehead. And I am

eir ridiculous, overblown noble p

urning with fury. She had not exp

ll into a d

ack onto the sofa. She studied me, as if re

r now. I had used her

he words squeezed from between her

to be cast out, I w

tly. "We will begin th

. I knew it wouldn

"But you will not take a single copp