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And Alcántara was the key So an and ended with hi went? Getting closer to Alcántara could prove illu in action, this was my moment At least that hat I toldwhat I was about to do, I needed everyI could muster

"Mi querida," he purred "What a surprise"

I closed the door behind -lady voice

Master Dagursson ht’ve so de Rosas Alcántara wrapped any furniture oiled to a fine sheen, and crystal snifters of brandy It serous

I pasted a smile on my face I’d purposely come at the end of his office hours so ouldn’t be interrupted I re For my plan to work, we needed to be alone So as ile and fluttering as a bird’s?

The wingback chair creaked as I sat down, the leather a deep--and deeply disturbing--oxblood red "Thank you for , but I had to start somewhere I was in it now And besides, I was convinced this was the best first step in my plan to uncover every secret in this place, because as closer to the heart of the mystery than Alcántara?

The Spanish va nificent predatory bird One false move, and I had no doubt he’d swoop across the roouy sure was pretty Long and lean, in black jeans and black sweater to match his artfully tousled black hair He looked like a bored rock star

Bored and silent

I waited, because wasn’t this place all about speak when spoken to?

It didn’t take too long before I began to squir the silence It was his tool, his weapon

Because I could no longer bear not saying so me"

Silence

"I know it’s the end of your office hours"

I could practically hear the crickets chirping

"I had an idea I wanted to discuss with you"

I

I couldn’t help it--that stare was too disar Apparently, his silence was, in fact, an aweso to ht? Is this an okay time? Do you need me to come back toant outburst e

Finally, a small smile curled his mouth "I always have time for you, cariño" The words rippled overwith o with Master Alcántara He’d tried this crap before, using eyes and voice and touch, trying to s burned, and held it As hed then, a bright, crisp bark of a laugh that seemed to surprise him as much as it did ain," he said "Just when I’d begun to fear you were avoidinglike he was plotting either how to bewitch me or bite me, and I relaxed a little "I confess," he said, "your rooht she had such depths"

"Frost?" I s with it, because my roommate was an infinitely better topic of conversation than an and ended with irregular Norse declensions"

"Funny, is it not? Hoo talented uessed you wouldn’t be friends Not your type"

He’d guessed? "So then why’d you assign ed every decision on this island Who rooot which weapons, hell, what food they served on any given day--it would’ve all gotten equal attention

"Not I, querida Acari Frost"--he shrugged like he found the name as silly as I did--"she is Alrik’s project, not ursson, our resident Viking vaursson can rest assured," I said blithely, "that girl is just as fascinated by him as he is by her"