Her heart pounded hard against her chest, and the beautiful

white wedding dress felt too tight to hold her. Too tight to hold all the emotions that rioted inside her

“Yes,” she said. “Let’s go home.”

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“Founder.”Amelie looked up as Oliver slid yet another dreary

file folder in front of her on her desk. She frowned at

it peevishly. “And what’s this one?”

“For your signature,” he said, and settled with insolent ease

into a chair on the other side. He’d gone back to his customary

black, which— she was sure he was aware— looked quite intimi-

dating on him. “Reports on the ongoing prosecutions. Rhys

Fallon is pleading not guilty, along with Anderson and some of

the other key members of the Daylight Foundation. I assume

you will sign the orders to terminate them once the verdict is

in.” He was watching her carefully, probing for weakness. As al-

ways.

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3 5 3

She handed the folder back. “No. My original decision still

stands.”

“You really must disabuse yourself of the notion that mercy

will heal all wounds. Some diseases need surgery.”

“Fallon thought he had such a surgical cure,” she said. “I am

not so foolish. If they’re found guilty, they will serve prison sentences, Oliver, and I shall hear no more of it. Chief Moses and I are in perfect agreement on this matter.”

“Chief Moses is just as much of a sentimental fool as you are.”

“Careful,” Amelie said in a low, even tone that nevertheless was

edged in ice. “I have ceded control of most things to the humans,

but within our ranks I still rule. You know that.”

“I do,” he said. “But you’d be terribly disappointed in me if I

didn’t test you from time to time.”

He was, unfortunately, right. All rulers needed gadflies to keep

them alert, keep them questioning. And for better or worse, for

eternity, he was hers.

And she could not deny that it suited them both, very well.

“Anything else? The night is growing short.”

“The university is reporting a few incidents,” he said. “It would

appear not all vampires are behaving themselves quite as well as

you require. I assume you’d like me to look into it.”

“Send Jason Rosser,” she said. “Since you’re grooming the psy-

chotic little beast to act as your second- in- command, best give

him the responsibility for keeping others in line. He will hope-

fully learn some restraint himself in the process, with your over-

sight. No deaths involved, I assume?”

“No,” he said. “I suppose the three vampires you locked up for

murder did get the message across effectively.”

“Then I suppose we are . . .”

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Rachel Caine

“At peace?” Oliver stood up and offered her his hand. She took