“Is there anywhere here that qualifies as safe for Elizabeth’s daughter?” Christophe’s tone could

have cut stone.

“Christophe.” Anna, strangely breathless. “What’s going on? What are you doing here? Kir, why

hasn’t he been arrested? He’s a traitor—”

“Watch your mouth,” Christophe’s voice cut across hers. Leon was strong for someone so wiry, and

I was really glad, because my knees buckled. The can of Coke hit the floor with a hollow chipping,

sloshing sound. More mess to clean up. “I demand a full Trial, according to the Codes.”

“You’re outside the Codes.” You could just see Anna’s self-satisfied smirk, the way she said it. It

occurred to me that she never really had anyone argue with her. She couldn’t have, not when she

sounded like that. “You’re a traitor, Reynard, and you’ve overreached yourself.”

God. None of them even talk like kids. I kept my eyes shut tight. Material rustled. The temperature

dropped, almost as cold as it had been a few minutes ago while the vampires were stalking Ash and

me.

Christophe’s fury was like a draft of air-conditioning against already-chilled skin. “If they come any

closer, Red Queen, you will lose your pretty bodyguards.”

Silence. Tense, ticking silence. I pried my eyes open and looked over Leon’s shoulder.

Anna stood behind three slim dark-haired boy djamphir. All three had red T-shirts, and I had the

not-so-nice idea she’d chosen them for their looks.

Not twins, but brothers, maybe. And in red shirts? Not a good choice. Hadn’t any of them ever

watched Star Trek?

Two of them had 9mms pointed at Christophe. The one in the middle—I’d seen him before—just

stood, hands loose and eyes empty, staring at him. Kir, Bruce, and Hiro stood aside, Hiro shifting

his weight just a fraction forward. The idea that he might just throw himself at Anna returned, circled my pain-fogged brain.

Anna’s blue gaze locked with Christophe’s. Her heart-shaped face was bloodless-pale, and her hair

was a perfect mass of clustered red-tinted ringlets. She was in silk again, a tightly laced old-fashioned dress with snow-white lace around the square neckline, more lace fountaining from the cuffs.

I got the idea she’d done her makeup up special for this. Not that she needed much. She was utterly

and completely beautiful, except for the hate shining in her eyes.

It was like an old Western showdown. I wouldn’t have been surprised if there were tumbleweeds.

Bruce cleared his throat. “Actually, he’s not outside the Codes.”

Anna darted him a bright, venomous glance. “I am head of the Council, and—”

“You’re svetocha,” Hiro said flatly. “The Codes are in the keeping of the princeps of the Order.

Which is Bruce, as provisional head of the Council.” He paused. A ghost of nasty satisfaction tinted

his tone. “A full Trial is within his purview to declare.”