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I thought about that for a second, then said, “I’m not implying it, I’m saying it.”

“You think so little of me?”

“I know what you were like two, almost three years ago, and I think then you would have consolidated your power base with very little regard for anyone that got in your way.”

“Are you saying I am ruthless?”

“Practical,” I said.

It was his turn to be quiet for a second or two, then, “Practical, yes, I am that, as are you, ma petite.”

“I know what I am, Jean-Claude, it’s you I’m not sure of.”

“I would never willingly hurt you, ma petite.”

“I believe you,” I said.

“I am not sure the same can be said of you,” he said, quietly.

“I don’t want to hurt either of you. But Richard cannot harm my leopards, and if you do anything stupid, don’t blame me for what happens next.”

“I would never underestimate your level of . . . practicality, ma petite, though I think Richard might.”

“He told me I wouldn’t kill him just for roughing up Nathaniel.”

“How rough was Richard to little Nathaniel?”

“Don’t talk about him like he’s a child, Jean-Claude, and rough enough that I cut Richard’s arm open.”

“How badly?”

“The doc’s stitching him up, even as we speak.”

“Oh, dear,” he said, and sighed, and this time the sound eased down my skin. I realized that he’d been behaving himself until now, at least about using his voice.

“No more games, Jean-Claude. I want to put Richard on the phone, and you tell him you did this on purpose.”

“But I cannot tell him that I lied about Nathaniel, now can I?”

“You fix this, Jean-Claude, now, tonight. I need Richard to teach me how to call Gregory’s beast. I don’t have time for him to sulk.”

“What am I to tell him, ma petite? What surety can I give him that you will not be in Nathaniel’s arms tomorrow morning? I believe that I can maneuver Richard into staying the night, having him there at your side when the ardeur rises.”

“Richard’s already made his position clear, Jean-Claude. He doesn’t let you, or Asher, or anyone, feed off of him. He doesn’t see why the rules change just because it’s me and sex, instead of blood.”

“He said that?” Jean-Claude gave a questioning lilt to his voice.

“Yeah, he said that, almost word-for-word.”

Jean-Claude sighed, and it sounded tired. “What am I to do with the two of you?”

“Don’t ask me,” I said, “I just work here.”

“And what, exactly, does that mean, ma petite?”

“It means that we don’t have a boss. It’s great being equals, if that’s what we are, but none of us knows what the hell is going on, and that isn’t good, Jean-Claude. We are messing with some very serious stuff here, metaphysically and emotionally and just plain physically. We need some clue as to what we should be doing with all of it.”

“And who should we be asking advice of, ma petite? If any vampire on the Council were to suspect that I have not given you both the fourth mark, they would destroy us, for fear that with the fourth mark we would become an even greater power.”

“I’ve talked to Marianne and her friends. They’re witches, Wiccan.”

“So we find, what, a local coven, and ask their guidance?” He sounded patronizing.

“I resent the tone, Jean-Claude, especially since I don’t hear you offering any better suggestions. Don’t criticize unless you can do better.”

“Very true, ma petite, and very wise. My deepest and most sincere apologies. You are quite right. I do not have a suggestion for whom we might turn to for advice, or guidance. I will think upon your suggestion to find a friendly witch to speak with.”

“I have a friendly one to speak to. She just might need to see the three of us together to see how things work.”

“You mean your Marianne?”

“Yeah.”

“I thought she was more psychic than witch.”

“There’s not all that much difference,” I said.

“I will take your word on that. I do not have much business with either.”

I realized I’d been planning to call Marianne since I woke up sandwiched between Caleb and Micah. Funny how it had slipped my mind.

“Is there