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cause the empress wishes.”
    I shook my head. “You’re not really making sense to me here.” Damian’s hand was still playing lightly over mine. I think if he hadn’t been touching me, I’d have been more upset.
    â€œBelle considers all who descend from her line, hers, thus through Jean-Claude you and Richard belong to her.”
    I shook my head and started to speak. Asher held up his hand. “Please, let me finish. It does not matter, Anita, whether you agree that you and Richard belong to Belle. It matters only that she believes you belong to her. She sees you as more weapons in her arsenal. Can you understand that?”
    â€œI understand what you’re saying, I don’t agree that I belong to anyone, but I can see where Belle Morte might think so.”
    He nodded, looked a little relieved, as if he hadn’t been sure what he’d do if I’d continued to argue. “ Bon, bon, then you must agree that Belle will want to test the metal of her two newest weapons.”
    â€œTest how?” I asked.
    â€œFor one thing, by bringing an underage pomme de sang to America and flaunting it in front of the Executioner herself. If Musette has offered to share pomme de sangs , then she may also offer to share human servants. It is considered a great honor to do so.”
    â€œShare?” I asked, instantly suspicious. Damian’s fingers had sped up, but I didn’t tell him to stop, because anger was tightening my shoulders, my arms.
    â€œShare blood, probably, because most vampires take blood from their human servants. Do not worry about sex, ma cherie , Musette is not a lover of women.”
    I half shrugged. “I guess that’s a relief.” I frowned. “If she considers me and Richard part of her . . . whatever, then what about his pack and my pard? Does Belle consider our people her people?”
    Asher licked his lips, and I knew the answer before he said it. “It would be like her to assume that.”
    â€œSo Musette and company will be testing not just me, or Richard, but the rest of our people.” I made it a statement.
    â€œIt is logical to assume so,” he said.
    I closed my eyes and shook my head. “I hate vampire politics.”
    â€œShe’s not yelling yet,” Jason said, “I’ve never seen her this calm after this much bad news.”
    I opened my eyes and frowned at him.
    â€œI believe it is Damian’s influence,” Asher said.
    Jason’s eyes flicked down to where Damian was playing gently with my hand. “You mean just touching her like that is helping her hold her temper?”
    Asher nodded.
    I had an urge to make Damian stop touching me, but I didn’t, because I was furious. How dare anyone come into our territory and test us? How arrogant! How typically vampire. And I was tired already, tired of the games to come. If Jean-Claude would just let me shoot everyone in Musette’s party tonight, it would save a lot of trouble. I just knew it would.
    I did make Damian stop playing with my hand by taking his hand in mine and holding it firmly. The edge of my anger softened. I was still angry, but it was distant, manageable. Damn, Asher was right. I hated that. Hated that some new metaphysical bullshit had reached up to force me into closer personal contact with yet another vampire. Why couldn’t metaphysics work just once without all the touchie-feelie crap?
    Jason was looking at us, an odd expression on his face. “I think we should attach Damian to Anita for the night.”
    â€œYou think Musette is going to piss me off that badly?” I asked.
    â€œShe’s not hurt anyone, yet, Anita, not raised a finger to anyone, yet everyone’s terrified. I’m fucking terrified, and I can’t figure out why. She’s this cute little, blond thing, and she’s gorgeous like a life size Barbie doll, with smaller breasts, but hey a man doesn’t need more