knuckles tapping a rhythmic beat on the polished oak of his desk. But his

nnounced, placing an ornate box on the desk. "Lord Benedict Sterling beg

y," he said coldly. "But we will remember this 'offense.' Let them pre

liet. As he turned to leave, he paused. "

" Auguste as

d. "My lord, your head... you di

or. There, on his left temple, was a thumb-sized, purp

ark was undeniably there. He searched his m

tered. A strange feeling, a l

lord," he whispered, "old texts say that some creatures, like a succubus or an imp, leave

oolishness. A succubus, or an imp... would

re into such a remote wood to bathe in the dead o

ilas immediately fell silent. But the id

thought. A 'woman' who could breach a forbidden area, vanish without a trac

ly. Her mind was a chaotic swirl of the night's events-the dark grotto, the pier

he was to the heavy oak wardrobe. As she turned sharply, her

g into the room. "Are you al

ing dizzy, but strangely, the po

acing herself for a tender bump, but as Rose gentl

"There isn't even a mark. Not

hough the sheer force of the impact should have left a nasty welt

g to leave for the barracks. As he pass

hard impact right on his left temple. He was absolutely certain h

t all. It hadn't grown darker, nor had a new mark appeared. There was only that single, ine

!" he

. "My lord,

e estate. Find out if anyone-especially a woman-has suffered a

earch. Everyone in this manor-servants,

ed, immediately left t

he was caught in an invisible net, and some mysterious cre